Bike4Friendship, the trailblazing coast-to-coast fundraising bike ride, is making history again.
Last year’s first-ever event saw three pioneering cyclists pedal their way east to west across America, raising funds—and awareness—for the Friendship Circle and its work.
Friendship Circle International, a division of the Shluchim Office, is the social phenomenon that connects teens and adults with special-needs peers in 82 locations across the U.S. and around the world.
And this year, eight brand-new volunteers are rolling their way back.
Kicking off their seven-week run from California to the New York island with a gala ride-along in beautiful Pacific Palisades, the team of semi-pro riders—all of whom trained for the cross-continental trip from as far back as March of this year—are now wending their way through the glorious heights of the Colorado Rockies.
A full mobile support and logistics crew, in the form of several well-stocked automobiles, is rolling along with Bike4Friendship, ensuring that the pack of riders has the backup they need.
But besides the size of this year’s Bike4Friendship contingent, there’s another major difference between this year’s and last year’s event: The size of the contingent—the guest riders, that is.
Last year saw a handful of supporters, admirers and well-wishers—including more than a few who were inspired to spontaneously join—riding along with the three-man crew for brief distances.
This year’s Bike4Friendship trek, however, takes that model to a whole new level.
Supporters, friends or the merely adventurous are now being actively invited, encouraged and organized to participate in any of the seven weekly ride-along segments.
Through Bike4Friendship.org, wannabe riders can sign up to join whichever weekly segment suits them best—and the ride’s “mission control” will shortly contact them and get them started.
Several dozen have already signed up for the ride-alongs, ensuring that there’ll be considerably more than eight cyclists spreading the message of befriending, embracing and including individuals with special needs.
And that wave of support and friendship is expected to crest when Bike4Friendship reaches New Jersey—where the last 40-mile run will feature dozens of riders symbolically completing the cross-country ride benefiting children with special needs.
Do you live in the Tri-State Area? Are you in for special-needs kids? Are you ready to roll? Then Bike4Friendship needs you!
Sign up today for the New York grand finale at Bike4Friendship.org/finale. To track Bike 4 Friendship’s journey across America, please visit Bike4Friendship.com/the-progress.
Can’t wait to see you when you hit chicago next week!
Guess which Chicago Mom wrote this?
Does this year’s team have a tech guy? He was probably invaluable to last year’s group.
Last year’s group was awesome!!!!!!!!!
where are you?
your friends and roommates in florida….
I am loving your summer your! When is the concert in New York?
We should all join! This will be great publicity as well as a great cause.
nice stuff, from one of the old baltimore guys
go yl and sa!!!
wow this is so cool! ROGERS PARK IS ON TOUR WITH THE US BIKERS!!
I love Rogers Park thanks for the uplifting friday night Davening!
lenny 1.0 and 2.0 we miss you.
ROGERS PARK!!!!!!!!!!
its not clear what the finale is, when and where etc can we get some details? it would be really nice to get a big group from team aleph to join