Category Archives: Bike the Drive

Help this blogger raise money for Chai Lifeline

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Dear Readers,

On Sunday, May 30, 2010 I will, for the third year year, join dozens of Chai Cyclists in Chicago’s Bike the Drive, a thirty-mile rally on Lake Shore Drive, to raise money for Chai Lifeline, a wonderful organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.

Last year was amazing. While I had only planned on biking 30 miles, I ended up biking all 45. This year I’m aiming for an even further distance. The experience of biking with friends and strangers for an important cause like Chai Lifeline was very rewarding. The weather was great and my family was so proud of me.  You can read the details here.

Many of you helped me raise money over the last two year and I was told that I actually brought in the second largest amount of sponsorship for 2009’s Bike the Drive program. Thanks to you, we made a difference.

Years ago, we purchased a car and got a “gift certificate” for a sporting goods store. Aside from skateboarding, I’m really not much of an athlete.  So, I ended up buying a bike (and one for my wife). While I do like to bike with my family around the neighborhood, I’ve very glad that I’m able to help Chai Lifeline.  To use my bike and get sponsors that can help Chai Lifeline is an amazing mitzvah opportunity.

Chai Lifeline provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children and their families every year. In our area, Chai Lifeline Midwest offers access to two-dozen free programs and services that touch each member of the family, helping them to live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness.  I have seen how much they do for families, especially when the outcome is devistating.

My objective is to raise at least $2,500.00 by race day and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax deductible. If your company has a matching gift program, your gift may be doubled or tripled.

I know that time are tough, believe me. But your help in donating any amount can make a difference. Thank you for supporting me, and in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment and aftermath of serious pediatric illness. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested in supporting Chai Lifeline.

When I train and ride this year I will be listening to lectures about Jewish thought and personal growth. In past rides I have been able to dedicate my biking as a merit for several sick children who personally get help directly from Chai Lifeline and also in memory of departed loved ones and others close to me.  So even if you don’t donate, please let me know if you would like me to have someone in mind when I’m listening to a shiur.

This year my ride will be much more personal, since my father, of blessed memory, passed away in early November of 2009. I’ve mentioned it a bit on my blog, but not the details.  He had very quickly gotten diagnosed with leukemia and while in the hospital he had contracted pneumonia. Sadly, it was too much for his body to handle. I’m fortunate that I was able to fly out to Wichita, KS to see him and be with him for his last 48 hours.  My father, Albert Lyon Harris, Avraham ben Zorach, was always supportive of me helping Chai Lifeline. He and his wife not only give financial support to my endeavor, but were very proud that they could help an important organization like Chai Lifeline. I remember calling my dad after last year’s ride and he was so thrilled to hear how far I had biked. So this year, I’ll be dedicating my ride to my dad.

If interested in helping me please feel free to click here or please send me an email. I would also be thrilled if you could forward this post to others (or even link). Thanks again for all of your help.

Warmly,
Neil Harris

Biking on LSD*

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*Lake Shore Drive
I arrived at the starting point, Buckingham Fountain on Lake Shore Drive at 5:45 am and hit the pavement.  At that time there were not too may bikers on the road as we headed south towards the Museum of Science and Industry .  I really felt that my training had paid off because as I looked at those biking north, I saw that most of them were going slowly and already looked exhausted.
After turning around and heading back north towards Buckingham Fountain, I realized that it was windy, very windy.  It was only got more difficult as I and hundreds of others biked north on Lake Shore Drive.  Now I realized why everyone looked exhausted.  The wind was fierce.  Finally as the road turned at Soldier Field the wind gave way.  Things got a bit easier, but it took a lot out of me biking against the wind.  After three repeat trips up and down LSD I finally successfully reached my goal of biking 45 miles, 15 miles more than I biked last year.


After the bicycling event, Chai Lifeline had arranged a very nice breakfast at the Spertus Museum catered by Wolfgang Puck Catering for those, like me, who helped raise money for the organization.  Coming back home, I was greeted like a champion with awesome signs that my kids made and my 2 1/2 yr old daughter shouting, “It’s the Bike the Drive Abba!”

I feel that I am fortunate enough to have not only, thanks to my many sponsors, raised an impressive amount for Chai LIfeline , but I also was able to listen to three shiurim while Biking the Drive.  While listening, I had in mind that it was L’Zecher Nishmas the following: 
Rivka ben Chaim Yosef, Dan HaLevi ben Ovadia, Efraim ben Shlomo, Chaim ben Raizl, and Reuven HaLevi ben Devorah.
Also as a Refuah Shelayma for Reuven ben Tova Chaya and Shelomo Bat Yehudit


My playlist was:
“Matan Torah Allows G-d To Penetrate Into Every Aspect Of Our Lives “- Rav Moshe Weinberger
“Shavuot: Seeing Sound “- Rabbi Akiva Tatz
“Shavuot – Moses, King David and The Baal Shem Tov ” – Rabbi Moshe New
“Gadlu”- Shalsheles
“Hafachta”- as covered by The Moshe Skier Band
“Dream Of Redemption”- Piamenta
“Anachnu Maaminim Medley”- Piamenta
“Hashem Malech”- Yosef Karduner
“Ashreinu”- Even Sh’Siyah
“V’lirusholayim”- The Yitzhak Halevi Band
“Pischu Li”- The Yitzhak Halevi Band
“Superman”- Goldfinger
“All Because of You”- U2
“Celebrated Summer”- Husker Du
I’m truly thankful to all who sponsored me.  Especially my wife, who is always my biggest sponsor.

Bike the Drive training update

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Armed with my helmet, some Powerade, and my mp3 player I ride at night along the bike path on McCormick.  With Bike the Drive happening this Sunday, it’s sort of crunch time.  It’s great to be biking again and getting some exercise that doesn’t involved shooting hoops with my son, chasing my daughter on equipment at the park, or letting her younger sister climb all over me and swing from my arms.
Knowing that people are helping me support Chai Lifeline and the great work they do is great motivation to keep pushing myself to literally go that extra mile each time I go out and train.
I have been listening to some great shiurim, as well.  This amazing shiur from Rav Weinberger given on Lag b’Omer is worth the cost of the FREE download.  I’ve actually listened to it twice while biking.  Another great download is Rabbi Shaya Cohen’s Keynote Address at the Priority-1 Parenting Expo that was recently held in Chicago (it’s the first item on the page).  Tonight I biked 12 miles and listened to Rabbi Akiva Tatz discuss the difference between the “Torah of Abraham, Torah of Shem v’Ever ” (you have to scroll down on the link to find the download).  I have been able to have the names of several people in mind while I have been listening to these and other shiurim, as an aliyah for their Neshamos.
Since it’s after the 33rd day of the Omer, I’ve also slipped in some Yosef Karduner, Piamenta, and Husker Du during the final stretch back home.  If you are interested in helping Chai Lifeline by sponsoring me, please click here and then chose my name from the pull-down menu.  Any amount would be great.  To those that have already sponsored me, thank you so much!!!

Please help me raise money for Chai Lifeline

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Dear Friends,
On May 24, 2009 I will, for the second year, join dozens of Chai Cyclists in Chicago’s Bike the Drive, a thirty-mile rally on Lake Shore Drive, to raise money for Chai Lifeline, a wonderful organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.  
Last year was amazing.  While I had only planned on biking 15 miles, I ended up biking all 30.  This year I’m aiming for a total of 45 miles.  The experience of biking with friends and strangers for an important cause like Chai Lifeline was very rewarding.  The weather was great and my family was so proud of me.  I’m really looking forward to training as soon as the snow melts here in Chicago.  I am also willing to bike while listening to a Jewish lecture and expand my knowledge in memory of a departed loved one or as a merit for someone to have a quick recovery from an illness.  Just email me the name in Hebrew or English.
Chai Lifeline provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children and their families every year. In our area, Chai Lifeline Midwest offers access to two-dozen free programs and services that touch each member of the family, helping them to live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness.
My objective is to raise at least $1,000.00 by race day and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax deductible.  If your company has a matching gift program, your gift may be doubled or tripled.
I know that the economy is very different than it was a year or even six month ago, but any amount would be helpful.  Thank you for supporting me, and in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment and aftermath of serious pediatric illness.  Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested in supporting Chai Lifeline. 
Warmly,
Neil Harris
P.S. You can sponsor me directly on line by going here .  Find my name in the drop down menu and then fill out the form to make your donation.  Thanks.

Reflections on Biking the Drive

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(The victory cake that my wife surprised
me with at a BBQ that afternoon)

Firstly, thanks to everyone who sponsored me and donated to Chai Lifeline. I’ve been told that they will actually still accept biker sponsorship until May 28 (donate here).

Training was great. I’ve been biking with my friend (who suggested the whole Bike the Drive thing to me in the first place from Devon up McCormick to Golf and back and forth several times (if you’re from Chicago this will mean something).

Sunday morning was awesome. If you’re interested in seeing the map for Bike the Drive, click here. I’ll took the southern route (it’s got less hills and the road is better paved) starting at Buckingham Fountain and going to the Museum of Science and Industry and then back to the Fountain, for a total of 15 miles. We started off at 5:40am and the weather was great.

I had the mp3 player going and really got into the biking. In fact, after completing the first 15 miles I decided to go another 15, for a total of 30 miles! I finished biking (with a few breaks) at 9:00am. The weather, as I said, was perfect and the view of Lake Michigan was excellent. I am not one to push myself physically, but I was so into the groove of biking that I wanted to go beyond my original plan (a good lesson for me in every aspect of life).
My playlist of MP3s also helped:
Getting To Know Me (2) What’s In It For Me? The Purpose Of The Sefer – Rav Moshe Weinberger
Hashem Melech – Yosef Karduner
Hashivenu- Yosef Karduner
Ki Ish HaIsraeli- Yosef Karduner
Ki Lo Chalu- Yosef Karduner
Kume Roni- Yosef Karduner
Mikimi- YosefKarduner
Mizmor L’David- Yosef Karduner
Shir La’maalot- Yosef Karduner
Tismach- Yosef Karduner
Tzadik- Yosef Karduner
V’Taher Libenu- Yosef Karduner
Ze Hoshienu- Yosef Karduner
Anachnu Maaminim Medley- Piamenta
Dream of Redemption- Piamenta
Getting To Know Me (3) Getting Real – Uncovering And Discovering Our Inner World – Rav Moshe Weinberger

Having not listened to music during my bike training, it was excellent to listen to Hashem Melach (a song that is constantly in my head). The shiurim by Rav Weinberger are well worth the small fee to download.

After the ride, representatives from Chai Lifeline were waiting for us with a boxed breakfast from BBs’ Bagels. As great as the biking was, the welcome I got from my family when I came home was even better. I won’t get into the details of what Mrs. Uberdox did, but in did include: Victory music, streamers, signs made by the kids, and a true breakfast of champions. I has happy to have helped raised money for Chai Lifeline and my family was proud of me.

In terms of “going beyond my original plan”, the extra 15 miles were an added plus. It felt like the right thing to do and there really wasn’t any reason not to do it. It is rather satisfying to know that being in the right environment, finding internal motivation, and acknowledgement of the benefits to doing something were factors that added to a personal success. Of course, these are also factors in the opportunities that are presented to me for growth as a Torah observant Jew. If only it was as “easy as riding a bike”…

One of several reasons I haven’t been blogging too much

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The Bike the Drive for Chai Lifeline training has been keeping me a bit busy these days. Family, work, little league, along with general life also takes time. Of course, the truth is ,that a post such as this is being writing with only two goals in mind:
a) To let those who actually take time out to read this blog know that I’m still out there and
b) to get more sponsors for the Chai Lifeline fund raiser. The twist I have on raising funds is, as I’ve been told, rather unique. As mentioned previously, I wil actually listen to a shiur while training/ Biking the Drive in memory or as a z’chus for someone. All that YOU need to do is be willing to donate to Chail Lifeline, here, and find my name in the sponsor list. Imagine, even if you donate, say, $5.00, I will have someone in mind when I listen to a shiur. I think it’s a rather good deal.

I found out two things last week while training.
a) I’m really out of shape, but that isn’t stopping me. My wife and kids are behind me!
b) The Rav Moshe Weinberger shiur “Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L’Chol (5) The Upheaval Of Moving From Shabbos To Chol (Everyday)” available as a free download, has totally changed what I think about when I make Havdalah.

Help Chai Lifeline and sponsor this blogger to Bike the Drive

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Dear Friends,

In a few weeks, I will join dozens of Chai Cyclists in Chicago’s Bike the Drive, a thirty-mile rally on Lake Shore Drive, to raise money for Chai Lifeline, a wonderful organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.

While I normally use my bike for fun, on May 25th I’ll be using my bike to help raise money for Chai Lifeline. I except to be rather tired, but it’s for a great cause. I’m not from the big bikers (in fact, like the old bumper sticker says, “I’d rather be skateboarding), but I’m going to give it a try.

Chai Lifeline provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children and their families every year. In our area, Chai Lifeline Midwest offers access to two-dozen free programs and services that touch each member of the family, helping them to live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness.

My objective is to raise at least $180 by race day and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax deductible. If your company has a matching gift program, your gift may be doubled or tripled. You can be part of this amazing event by helping to sponsor me by clicking here and finding my name (Neil Harris) in the pull down menu. It’s fast and easy!

Thank you for supporting me, and in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment and aftermath of serious pediatric illness. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested in supporting Chai Lifeline.

Warmly,

Neil

P.S. Again, you can sponsor me directly on line by going here.
Find my name in the drop down menu and then fill out the form to make your donation. No amount is too small or too big. Thanks!

I’ll be posting training updates and if you would like me to to listen to an mp3 shiur while biking, as a refuah or a z’chus for someone, please feel free to email me at neilsharris@hotmail.com .