About The Trip

"What happens when an American Rabbinical student sits down at a pizza shop in Israel?" Sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, no?
Well actually, that's exactly how Bike 4 Friendship was started... No Joke!

Zalmy Perlman, a California native, was enjoying some pizza with a friend, Reuven Roth, when he got the idea to bike across the U.S. to benefit children
with special needs. After discussing his idea with some other friends, and forming a team of bikers, Perlman contacted Friendship Circle International
and proposed the idea to them. Here's what was decided:

The cross-country trek will begin June 26th, 2011 in Livingston, NJ and will continue along the East Coast down to Georgia where the Bike 4 Friendship Team will head west to Louisiana and on through Texas as they make their way to California. Their route will take them to 20 Friendship Circle chapters
where they will meet our children with special needs and the community at large.

100% of the money raised for Bike 4 Friendship supports Friendship Circle’s mission of bringing friendship and inclusion into the lives of children with special needs while also providing respite and support to their families and siblings. Friendship Circle’s unique method pairs local teen volunteers with a child who has special needs. Together, the pair participates in weekly programs such as sports night, dance class, bowling and more. These friendships create a sense of confidence and community inclusion in the life of the child. In turn, the teen volunteers gain leadership skills, hands on education about special needs and a true sense of social responsibility through the act of selfless giving.