Bike Ride Along Maryland’s Eastern Shore to Benefit Israel’s ALYN Hospital

Since 2000, more than 1,000 bicyclists have traveled to Israel on an annual basis to participate in the "Wheels of Love" ride. (Photo by Gema Saputera on Unsplash.com)

Some of Maryland’s most picturesque towns, stunning vistas and serene landscapes can be found along the winding roadways and coastlines of the Delmarva Peninsula. So where better to enjoy a breezy bike ride for a good cause than downy Eastern Shore, hon?

From Oct. 24-26, dozens of supporters of the ALYN Hospital, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital in Jerusalem, will gather on the Eastern Shore for a three-day bicycle ride. The goal of the ride is to raise funds for the care of children with a range of physical disabilities, both acquired and congenital, such as cerebral palsy, neuromuscular diseases, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries and burns.

The 130-mile charity ride — called “Wheels of Love U.S.A.” — benefits the ALYN Hospital, Israel’s only pediatric and adolescent rehabilitation facility, which provides innovative care and treatment for children at the medical center. The hospital is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its founding this year.

The Dorchester County Courthouse in Cambridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. (WIkipedia)

For many of the cyclists, who will come from all over the the United States, the “Wheels of Love” ride is a meaningful annual tradition. Since 2000, more than 1,000 bicyclists have traveled to Israel on a yearly basis to participate in the ride, which traditionally spans five days.

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the ride to go virtual, and in May of 2021, a single-day ride in Morristown, New Jersey, raised more than $130,000.

This year marks the first time that American riders can participate in a multi-day ride in the U.S. Israeli cyclists will also participate in the 22nd annual “Wheels of Love” ride, held this year in southern Israel, beginning on Oct. 24.

Among those who will participate in the Israel ride is Baltimore native Alan Baklor. “I have been riding for the Children of ALYN for about nine years,” said Baklor, who now lives in Israel. “I first heard about Wheels of Love 20 years ago when a friend who worked for the hospital tried to convince me to join Israel’s first fundraising bike ride. She knew I used to ride a lot in my youth … but I hadn’t been on a bike in years.

“In 2013, I joined for just the last day: a 40-mile, 5,000-foot climb to Jerusalem, which culminated at the hospital itself,” he said. “It was one of the most amazing scenes I had ever been a part of: hundreds of exhausted cyclists from Israel and around the world are greeted by all the patients, families and staff of the hospital, who can’t stop thanking us. … The work [ALYN does] is amazing, in part thanks to the millions raised each year by us riders. I know at least two children who have benefitted from the unparalleled treatment they provide, which makes participating in the ride all the more meaningful to me personally.”

The Eastern Shore ride’s route will take participants through the scenic backroads of the Dorchester County seat of Cambridge, the nearby Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, and other historic and charming landscapes around the Chesapeake Bay. 

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a waterfowl sanctuary for birds located 12 miles south of Cambridge. (Wikipedia)

 “’Wheels of Love’ is the hospital’s largest fundraising event of the year, supporting the thousands of children with disabilities who rely on the innovative and personalized treatment ALYN Hospital provides,” said Maayan Aviv, executive director of the New York-based American Friends of ALYN Hospital. “As one of the world’s leading pediatric rehabilitation facilities, ALYN’s innovation lab, ALYNnovation, and state-of-the-art facility produce life-changing pediatric assistive technologies for children with disabilities worldwide.”

Online registration for “Wheels of Love U.S.A.” is now open. The $500 registration fee covers accommodations for the three-day event at Cambridge’s Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort, lunches, a dinner reception and more.

Registered cyclists must pledge to raise $2,500 each. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available as well.

To ensure the safety of participants, COVID-19 precautions will be in place throughout the event. All participants will be required to submit proof of vaccination.

A virtual ride, #MyALYNRide, is available for those committed to supporting the ALYN Hospital but unable to travel to Maryland.

For information about “Wheels of Love U.S.A.,” visit alynus.org/events-2/wheels-of-love-2021-md/. For information about ALYN Hospital, visit alyn.org.

To sponsor Alan Baklor’s ride in Israel, visit https://www.alynactive.org/participant/alan-baklor/.

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