(Courtesy of Chai Lifeline)
New York, NY, June 12, 2019—On July 16 more than 200 women will clip in and ride 100 miles as part of Tour de Simcha. The annual, all-female cycling event benefits Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health support network which provides emotional, social, and financial support to children with serious illness and their families.Participants will embark from Woodbridge, NJ, and ride along miles of scenic,rolling hills until they reach The World’s Greatest Finish Line, the entrance gate to Camp Simcha Special, Chai Lifeline’s overnight camp for children with chronic illnesses and medical challenges, located in Glen Spey, NY.
As they enter camp, the cyclists will be greeted by campers, many of whom need wheelchairs, respirators, or other medical equipment to survive, as well as hundreds of family and staff members, who willcelebrate along with them.
“The women of Tour de Simcha are an inspiration to all of us. With every mile they ride, they help Chai Lifeline continue to fulfill its mission, providing critical supportto thousands of children facing life-threatening and lifelong illness and their families,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, Chai Lifeline’s Chief Executive Officer.
For the first time, Tour de Simcha riders will have the ability to take part in a century ride (100 miles), along with other route options based on varying levels ofdifficulty. While the cyclists enjoy the physical challenge, they all participate fordifferent reasons.
“I’ve been a rider for Tour de Simcha since 2015,” said Tova Gerson, an early childhood educator from Bergenfield, NJ, and mother of four. “That year I dedicated my ride for Evan Levy, a young boy in my nursery school class who was diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, he passed away the following year at only four and a half years of age. This year, my group Team Evan will be biking in Evan’s memory, just two days before what would have been his eighth birthday. I remember how Evan was full of laughter and smiles, way beyond his years, and it’s fitting that we are riding into Camp Simcha in his memory.”
To learn more about Tour de Simcha, please visit www.tourdesimcha.org.
