Lakewood, NJ – Biking For a Mitzvah, Chai Lifeline

Lakewood, NJ – It is an inspirational story. One sees a family in turmoil. Cancer has taken hold of a child or of a loved one. We see their agony and want to do something. But we are powerless. Can we donate? Yes, but most of us do not have access to large sums. Most of us think fleetingly about doing something, and then the thought goes away.

Not Dovid Egert, however.

Dovid is an EMT for Monmouth – Ocean Hospital and is also an avid cyclist. An alumnus of Adelphia Yeshiva, he has conceived of a means in which he can assist in raising ten thousand dollars for Chai Lifeline. Chai Lifeline is an organization that assists very ill children and their families. On August 2nd, 2009, Dovid Egert will B’ezras Hashem bike. He will bike from the Jersey Shore for 135 miles to the Catskill Mountains in Glen Spey, New York.

Why Glen Spey? Because this is where Camp Simcha is housed. His ride will both bring attention to the wonderful work of Chai Lifeline and Camp Simcha and will hopefully raise the sum of ten thousand dollars through sponsorships of his historic bike ride.

“My dream was to always be able to raise moneys for Chai Lifeline in unique ways,” says Dovid. “Last year, in early December, I ran a marathon and thank G-d I was able to raise $4500.”

Dovid and his twin brother Shalom grew up in Lakewood, New Jersey with their nine siblings. Dovid’s parents raised their children to do Chessed. One could say that this family imbibed Chessed with their mother’s milk. His mother is a dispatcher for Lakewood Hatzolah. Family members describe a household routine in which mergency phone calls were received seven days a week and twenty four hours a day. Dovid’s father, Rabbi Egert is a Rebbe in the Lakewood Cheder. His dedication to Chinuch is legendary. Dovid’s brother Shalom runs a Chessed program called “The Daily Smile.com” an organization that cheers people up in hospitals and elsewhere.

Chai Lifeline offers access to two dozen free programs and services and services that touch each member of the family, helping them live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness. All donations are 100% tax deductible. If your company has a matching gift program, your gift may be doubled or tripled.

Dovid has been volunteering for the past five years for Chai Lifeline driving people from Lakewood to all the cancer hospitals in the east coast – often all the way to Philadelphia. Over the summer Dovid is a counselor at Camp Simcha.

The public has taken a strong interest as well. Indeed, the local Police Benevolent Association in Lakewood has become a corporate sponsor. Another anonymous donor just popped in and donated $1000 to the cause.

His work is not over. “In January of 2010, I hope to run in the Miami marathon to also raise money for Chai Life Line. I hope also to do the December Marathon in Las Vegas again – I did not sign up for it yet, but I hope to run it.”

“We are enormously proud of Dovid, he is a remarkable example of chessed in action,” remarked his brother Shalom.

Chai Lifeline has a marathon website teamlifeline.org for anyone interested in doing what Dovid does, can check his website www.bike4chai.com.