Originally published on December 8, 2011 | Canadian Jewish News
Tami and Yossi Zimner, seen here wearing Canadian colours, were part of a group of 60 North American cyclists, 52 of them from Canada, who joined 55 disabled Israeli veterans on a five-day adventure through southern and northern Israel.
Sponsored by Beit Halochem Canada, the group raised more than $350,000 for cycling rehabilitative programs at Beit Halochem Centres in Israel.
The bikers started in Ashkelon and cycled to the Dead Sea. From there, they turned north to Rosh Hanikra. The North American cyclists were impressed by the courage and determination of the disabled Israelis – those without use of their legs used hand bikes and those with visual or hand injuries rode on tandem bikes with more able-bodied partners.
Beit Halochem’s rehabilitative centres in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Nahariya, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva have enabled them to rebuild their lives.