Baltimore Biker Cholim Thanks You! Biker Cholim 8th Annual Men’s Bike-a-thon (Photo Essay)

By BJLife/Rochelle Goldberg
Posted on 08/04/21

Baltimore, MD - Aug. 4, 2021 - Another year, another success! Over 165,000 dollars raised by over 200 cyclists, and generous sponsors for Baltimore Bikur Cholim.

The cyclists trained hard and fundraised to help Baltimore Bikur Cholim continue their mission of kindness. We are grateful that we were able to have our beautiful ride on the day of our event, this past Sunday, August 1st.  Although, the weather looked like it was going to be a wash out, the rain held off all morning, and made for a ride with cool weather. At our new venue, Ateres Elka, our 50 milers started the day at 7:45 in the morning and enjoyed the magnificent new scenic routes devised by our own Coach Noam Shiman. The 25 milers also had a new route, left at 9:00, and finally the 10 milers were off at 10:30 in the morning.

The cyclists met and overlapped on these wonderful scenic new routes and enjoyed respite at the rest stops manned by: Yaakov Cohen and family, Dovy Turner and family, Dovid and Eli Blau and Shua Portnoy and family. Sag wagons were directed by, Tzvi Shear, Noam Shiman, and Asher Wildman and command center was handled by Ariella Grunhut.

All the cyclists met back at Ateres Elka where they crossed the finish line and enjoyed refreshing ices and cold drinks and sushi. Cyclists and their families enjoyed a BBQ lunch following the ride. Trophies were presented to the top fundraisers: Bill Goldberg, Gil Neuman and Pinny Hexter; Top Teams; SIC Bikers, Wilson on Wheels and Team Elefant; and finally, the Jr. Fundraisers; Meira Gottlieb, Shaya Kates and Nat Storch.

The Men’s Biker Cholim bikeathon could not have happened without the efforts of this dedicated and talented committee: Yaakov Berkowitz, Tzvi Feigenbaum, Akiva Goldberg, Rochelle Goldberg, Mordechai Gottlieb, Bonnie Pollak, Eliezer Portnoy, Pinchos Rabinowitz, Liz Rothstein, and Noam Shiman.  The Junior Biker Cholim event is chaired by Mindy Benyowitz, and Aliza Tender.

Bikur Cholim of Baltimore has over 450 volunteers. Bikur Cholim distributes over 9,000 meals to 8 different hospitals, delivers more than 3,000 meals to people’s homes, services patients and families from more than 40 different cities and countries, provides over 3,000 rides to medical appointments and Shabbos and Yom Tov situations, visits over 6,000 patients in hospitals, homes and facilities and provides patient advocacy services over 15 times a week. Come ride with us and be part of the team that helps so many. The money you raise supports these vital community services:

•         Patient Advocacy

•         Kosher meals to patients/families in the hospital and home

•         Transportation to medical appointments and hospitals

•         Transportation on Shabbos and Yom Tov

•         Visitation in area hospitals

•         Housing in the community

•         Free-loan medical equipment

•         Medical referrals

•         Kosher Hospitality Rooms in four local hospitals

•         Accommodations near area hospitals for Shabbos/Yom Tov

•         Community and volunteer education

Baltimore Bikur Cholim thanks all of you for making this another successful year. Wishing you all a Ksiva Vachasima Tova.