(Courtesy of Chai Lifeline) With their largest group of riders to date, Chai Lifeline’s Tour de Simcha fundraising bike ride took place on the hot country roads of upstate New York last week. The annual all-women’s ride raises funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children’s health organization providing social, emotional and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses and their families.

Beyond just the fun, friendly sporting event, the Tour de Simcha has become known for its inspirational “World’s Greatest Finish Line” at Camp Simcha, Chai Lifeline’s medically supervised summer program for children with serious illness. Campers and staff gathered at the finish line to celebrate with the riders, making the event and the work getting to this point even more meaningful. Among the riders were former Camp Simcha campers, survivors of cancer and other illnesses, as well as relatives and friends who lost loved ones to disease but continue to ride in appreciation for what the camp does on behalf of this community.

“When my good friend Shani Klein described riding into Camp Simcha where she was greeted by Camp Simcha campers and staff back in 2015, she couldn’t say enough about the energy and excitement of the riders and campers dancing and singing together,” said Gilit Herman of Teaneck. “I knew this was something I wanted to experience.”

Herman bought a used bike in 2016 and went out for her first ride, which she embarrassingly admitted ended in a fall, scraping her arm. “After that first ride I wasn’t sure that biking was for me. But Shani convinced me to sign up for Tour De Simcha, so I bought my first road bike, learned how to ‘clip in’ and trained for my first ride. It was everything that Shani described.”

“Tour de Simcha is so much more than a fundraising event,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “It gives riders of all different levels the opportunity to participate in a truly meaningful and exciting experience, while also making a real difference in the lives of children and families impacted by illness and loss.”

“Riding into Camp Simcha was exhilarating,” Herman added. “Seeing the smiles made the tough 70-mile ride worthwhile. I’m so excited to ride again this year. It’s an experience that never gets old.”

A camper at Camp Simcha, 17-year-old Rosie Grossbaum, born with cystic fibrosis, joined the ride this year for the first time. Rosie, from Morristown, New Jersey, rode with her mother, Rochie, to give back to the organization that has had such an impact on their family.

“Rosie has been a camper at Camp Simcha since she was 9 years old and it has played a huge role in helping her to be the incredible human she is today,” said Rochie. “Seeing her power through and persevere in this tough ride in the hot temperatures was awe-inspiring. Riding behind her as she rode into camp, with all her Camp Simcha friends and all the guests cheering her on was extremely emotional and beautiful.”

“It was surprising how once I started training, I saw the growth that I had,” said Rosie. “I didn’t think I could do it, but I first started with five miles and the next thing you know, boom, I had way more stamina. We might not all be the strongest or the best. We have things that are very crushing, but just giving it your all, and your fight to succeed is what matters. The fact that you get up every morning with all the things you go through makes you a warrior.”

Leading a team of 14 riders in memory of her sister-in-law Dorina, Dina Kalaty of Great Neck was joined by her daughter and niece on the scenic course. “Dorina was one of the most beautiful people inside and out,” she said. “She inspired and awakened people to their life’s purpose and so everything I do now has more meaning because of her, including this ride.”

Each summer, Camp Simcha, located in Glen Spey, New York, serves hundreds of medically fragile campers from across the world. Described as “a hospital camouflaged as a camp,” Camp Simcha provides children and teens with an optimal escape from their everyday challenges in a warm, safe and nurturing environment.

To learn more about Tour de Simcha, visit www.tourdesimcha.org.