Rockland Riders Take Part in Bike4Chai Annual Bike Ride

By M. C. Millman

On Wednesday, August 17, and Thursday, August 18, 474 cyclists are riding close to 60,000 miles to support children with severe illnesses as part of Bike4Chai. Now in its 13th year, the annual cycling event raises funds for Chai Lifeline, the international children's health support network which provides social, practical, and financial assistance to children with life-threatening and lifelong illnesses. 

Naftuly Kraus joined 22 other riders from Team Rockland who took part in Bike4Chai 2022. Team Rockland has as of now raised $1,110.958.15 since 2018.

"I'm a high-energy type of guy and a heavy extrovert," Kraus, a seventh-year Team Rockland rider, shares with Rockland Daily. "The first year, I did Bike4Chai because it was a bucket list item. What keeps me coming back is the massive hock, the noise, the energy. It's also a great networking opportunity. Then, there's the indescribable feeling after two full days of biking when you're still half a mile away from Camp Simcha, and you hear that music. I can't describe the emotion. It's surreal. And then you get there, and the energy is palpable! I get speechless trying to explain the hype the coming up to the finish line creates. It's bonkers."

This year's event kicked off on Wednesday morning, August 17, with a 50-mile endurance ride and an opening ceremony in the evening. The ride began in the early morning of August 18, with 60, 85, and 100- mile route options, culminating in The World's Greatest Finish Line at Camp Simcha in Glen Spey, New York. There, cyclists are greeted by hundreds of campers, family, and staff members, who celebrated their achievements along with them. 

So far, Team Rockland raised $291,233.09 of the $11,176,831.35 raised by the Bike4Chai ride this year. The funds support Chai Lifeline's 6,000 families and more than two dozen year-round programs and services. This includes professional case management and counseling, meal delivery to hospitals and homes, transportation to medical appointments, emergency financial assistance, crisis intervention and trauma response, insurance advocacy, i-Shine after-school programming for children living with illness or loss in their families, Camp Simcha summer programming, and more.