October 11, 2007 – Each year, more and more Canadians and Americans are running, walking, swimming, and cycling to raise millions of dollars for important causes like cancer and AIDS research, child obesity, hunger, and diabetes, to name just a few. Working out for a note-worthy cause, inspires people to push themselves farther than they ever thought possible.

Fitness Philanthropy – participating in endurance and physical activities to raise money for those who cannot — is the latest trend for fitness enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Take Noah Alper, former founder of the west coast chain Noah’s Bagels, when he first began biking he did it solely for the physical challenge and health benefits of cycling. However, the motivation to get in shape only took him so far-Noah soon found himself lacking motivation for his typical workout routine. That is when Noah decided to stop riding only for himself, and started riding for others.

Noah decided to participate in ALYN Hospital’s charity event, called Wheels of Love. WOL is now Israel’s largest athletic fundraising event and ALYN’s most successful way to raise the much needed funds to bridge the gap between the actual cost of every child’s care and the amount reimbursed by Israeli Health Insurance companies. This year 500 riders will spend from October 28th to November 1st cycling approximately 300 miles on four different routes from Tiberias to Jerusalem. Approximately 100 Canadians and 150 Americans will travel at their own expense and join Israelis and Europeans in this moving celebration of bikes, Israel and ALYN’s amazing children.

“Riding for philanthropy has not only created a physical goal, but has fostered a whole new interest in physical fitness for me,” Noah said. “At 60, I am now in better shape than I have been in the last twenty years, thanks to the ride. I hope that I will continue to ride for at least another five years.”

For more information on fitness philanthropy and the ALYN Wheels of Love charity bike ride, please contact in Canada 905-508-0991; in USA 212-584-4279; or email ptorney@5wpr.com; www.alynus.org.

About Wheels of Love
Wheels of Love, Israel’s largest sports charity event will begin on Sunday morning, October 28, 2007 from Tiberias and will end in Jerusalem Thursday afternoon, November 1st. This year, the ride will include four routes: On Road, On-Road Challenge, Off-Road and Touring, which is a half-day of cycling and a half-day of touring.

The route for 2007 includes scenery up North, including the Golan, the Galilee, the valleys, and a ride down the coast to Tel Aviv. Thursday’s ride will ascend to Jerusalem, entering the city as a large group and ending with a festive end-of-the-ride ceremony.

About ALYN Hospital
ALYN Hospital is one of the world’s leading specialists in the active and intensive rehabilitation of children who have physical challenges and disabilities as a result of congenital muscular, neuromuscular and skeletal disorders, invasive cancer surgery, fires, accidents and terrorist attacks.

ALYN treats children from birth to young adulthood, regardless of religion or ethnic origin and is the only facility of its kind in Israel. Absolutely everything needed to rehabilitate a child is under one roof at ALYN and a talented staff combines expertise with love and state-of-the-art technology to help each patient reach his or her highest possible level of mobility and independence.

The Rehabilitation Center is a nonprofit that receives no government funding and its extraordinary care is only partially reimbursed from health insurance. Donations are desperately needed to bridge the gap between insurance and the true cost of care as well as to fund research, replacement equipment and renovations.