Greetings!

Welcome to my Tour de Simcha fundraising page! Everyone has their own unique reason for wanting to accomplish this extraordinary cycling event and I wanted to give you a personal understanding of why this feat means so much to me. When I was eight years old, my father succumbed to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Upon reflection of my life in the years following his untimely passing, I am in amazement as to how much of my professional life and charitable passions have been so impacted by my father's diagnosis. I am now an oncology pharmacist and I try my best to be involved in cancer-related projects. As many children do, I started learning to bike ride likely when I was about six years old; however, due to my father being diagnosed with cancer, my family's focus was, expectedly, on his health, and far from taking me off of training wheels. Fast forward to when I was 25 years old and in pharmacy school - I decided to teach myself how to bike ride! I started off by renting Citi bikes and riding (but, really, mostly falling!) on the broken sidewalks of Chicago. Eventually, I had someone from a cycling safety organization spend a couple of hours teaching me biking basics. Finally, after consistent practice every Sunday, I learned how to bike ride (with only a few bruises!). Ever since then, my goal has been to use that skill to do a bike tour...and how much better would it be to find a charitable bike tour for cancer.

Three years after learning to bike, I had the special privilege of volunteering as a pharmacist at Camp Simcha Girls, a phenomenal overnight camp that provides seriously ill children with a vacation from sickness, restoring their spirits and renewing their determination to fight. It was humbling to see how strong the girls were in the face of the biggest challenge of their lives. But it was this experience that allowed me to remember that we, as healthcare professionals, are not only treating patients, but we are treating people - children to parents, siblings to brothers and sisters, alike, nieces, and cousins - who are so much more than their respective diagnoses. Camp Simcha provided these girls with a jam-packed schedule of activities that were aimed to do nothing more, but to bring them joy. Regardless of any physical limitations the campers may have had, the ultimate ambition of each and every staff member was to do everything in their power to make these girls' two week hiatus from their real lives as filled with laughter and amazing memories, as possible. And what an honor it was to serve such remarkable young women!

It was during this incredible two week period that I learned more about Tour de Simcha and promised myself that I would bike this event...one day! Now is the year that it will happen - the 8th Annual Tour de Simcha, on July 16th, 2019! I will, G-d willing, bike from Central New Jersey to Upstate NY to support children suffering from pediatric illnesses. While I know that this ride won't be easy, neither is life for a child with cancer or other serious illnesses. My objective is to raise a minimum of $3600 by the day of the Tour and I am indebtedly asking you to please help me help the children and their respective families who rely on the wonderful work of Chai Lifeline, by donating to this cause. All donations are 100% tax-deductible. I thank you, in advance, for supporting me and, in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment, and aftermath of serious pediatric illness. Whether by donation or spreading the word to your family and friends, your contribution will be tremendously appreciated! May we all be blessed with much health and happiness!

With much gratitude,
Leah (Loriel) Solodokin