231 kilometers.

12 hours.

Over 90,000 shekels raised.

Over 1,000 people following on the blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

Countless spirits raised.

What an awesome night.

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Yarden is on the road riding to raise money for families in Gush Etzion who are dealing with illnesses.

6:05PM – Rav Matanya Ben Shachar, rav of Neve Daniel, spoke briefly to inaugurate the ride. Yarden’s message to Stella was “I’ll let the riding speak for me.” He did one lap, came back to find Stella in the crowd, kissed her, and was off.

6:15PM – Yarden is off and riding.. He’s lapping the main roads in the yishuv with a few dozen kids in tow.

8:27PM - Yarden is leaving Neve Daniel now and heading into the Gush Eztion circuit of Alon Shevut / Rosh Tzurim / Efrat.

9:15PM - Yarden’s making a second lap into Efrat. The follow car (Josh & Avi) were pulled over by the cops for blocking traffic. They had an ishur (permit).

9:59PM - Yarden’s heading out of Alon Shevut, listening to AC/DC.

10:12PM - the follow car cracked open the popcorn.

10:40PM - We reached the 100km mark. Yarden’s changing his shirt and heading back up to Efrat on his fourth circuit in Gush Etzion.

11:00PM - David Bender (http://www.davebrianbender.com/) joined Yarden for the ride. Yarden is riding at a little over 22km/h. He’s wearing a black shirt (and a reflective vest, and has tons of lights on him).

11:16PM Latitude: 31° 39′ 3.58172”, Longitude: 35° 7′ 43.7543”, Speed: 9 m/s, Bearing: 172°, Altitude: 970.4 meters. Also, a course adjustment because Alon Shevut isn’t The City That Never Sleeps… they shut the gate.

11:32PM - Yarden’s finishing up his circuits in Gush Etzion. Stay tuned for a live video update: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/longingforthedawn

12:00AM - Heading into Yerushalayim. Reached the halfway mark for the ride. Stay tuned for a live video update: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/longingforthedawn

12:12AM - Video technical malfunction. Our crack team of experts is on the case… even though it’s past their bedtime.

12:21AM We are meeting up with the bet shemesh crew [Yarden's bike club from Beit Shemesh. Ed.]

12:45AM Midnight Madness!! Crazy awake Neve Daniel friends came out to greet Yarden and his biking crew on the road to Jerusalem. It’s a crystal clear night, cool and dry. Speed: 12 m/s
Bearing: 36°

12:55AM – Heading into the tunnels on 60 on the way to Jerusalem.

1:06AM – Just entered Jerusalem …should be at Kotel in 25 minutes or so.

1:29AM – Latitude: 31° 46′ 26.7244” Longitude: 35° 13′ 59.7021” Speed: 3 m/s Bearing: 70° – In the Old City of Jerusalem.
2:12AM – Latitude: 31° 43′ 50.5409” Longitude: 35° 12′ 19.9625” Speed: 10 m/s Bearing: 199° – heading down Derech Chevron to Kever Rachel.

2:17AM – Heading back to the Gush.

3:10AM – Back in Efrat.

I have gotten several e-mails that say something like this:

Yarden,

I would like to join you for your ride although I am not in shape and have not ridden a bicycle in over ten years. In fact, I am not sure where my bike is or if it has wheels. But I want to be part of your ride.

Hmm…

Let me make a better suggestion.

Stella and I would like nothing more than for all those who have been following our situation to go take a walk on the night of the ride (Thursday, November 10 through Friday, November 11). It makes no difference if you live in Neve Daniel, Maryland, Oklahoma, Ireland, or wherever. Go out for a walk with your spouse, child, friend, or anyone you love.

Don’t talk about work, errands, Mazkirut elections, or so forth. Just focus on how amazing it is to love someone and be loved. Don’t think about the future or the past, for this walk —  just focus on how good the present can be. If you happen to live here, wave when I go by. That would mean much more to me than trying to kill yourself keeping up with a ride that you may not be prepared for.

None of us knows what tomorrow may bring. So let’s take advantage of what we have.

Leave the pedaling to me.

Yarden

We have raised over 50,000 62,000 [Ed.] shekels so far. Thank you. These funds will go to the Gush Etzion Health Fund to help families which are experiencing serious illness here in Gush Etzion. You can still pledge per kilometer, per hour, or make a total pledge by clicking here.

First, if you are new to this blog, let me catch you up.

My name is Yarden Frankl and six years ago I moved from Potomac, Maryland to Neve Daniel, Israel with my wife Stella and our four kids. For six years we have had an amazing life filled with equal loads of satisfaction and pride for our choice to make Aliyah, as well as a whole bunch of fun. As a hobby, I started riding bikes and running really far. Everything was really as good as could be, until…

At the beginning of the Summer, Stella felt a pain in her stomach. A few days later, our worst nightmare became our reality when she was diagnosed with late stage stomach cancer. Since then, our lives have been turned upside down as Stella struggles with cycle after cycle of chemotherapy.

While Stella battles the illness and the chemo as best as she can, I have been left sitting helpless while I watch from the sidelines. Wanting to get up and do something, and also concerned about medical expenses, I decided that I would ride my bike through the night and raise money for the Gush Etzion Foundation’s fund for families like ours struggling with serious illness. More on my decision if you read this post.

So now, what began as a late night thought, as turned into a major campaign. People from all over are pledging their support, and Stella and I cannot thank you enough. Really, we see every pledge that comes in, from close friends to those we have never met. It is extremely moving and even if I said THANK YOU a million times over, it would not be enough. I wrote a form thank you letter but it really cannot describe how moved we are each and every time we see a pledge.

Now, with the ride less than two weeks away, it is time to plan the details.

So here are some of them:

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Dear God,

I write just a few hours before Rosh Hashana.

I write with overwhelming gratitude in my heart for a wonderful life.

I live in a land that glows with your holiness, a land where my ancestors once lived.

And I am privledged to be part of a movement that seeks to rebuild this amazing land and maybe in my own small way, I have contributed to this rebirth. And I am thankful.

I am privledged to have a job that is more than just a paycheck, a job where I can feel that I am helping defend my country from her enemies. And I am thankful.

I am privileged that I can still run farther than most people drive and compete in races at an age where most people think that getting the mail is exercise. And I am thankful.

I am privileged to have so many friends that I can count on when the chips are down without question. And I am thankful.

Of course I am thankful that I have four wonderful children. I watch them growing up and relish each accomplishment. From Dvrei Torah to sacks and touchdowns, each one in their own way shows me how special they are and how much potential they have.

But most of all, I am thankful that you brought me and Stella together so many years ago. In twenty-six years, we have journeyed very far in so many ways. From hockey games to Grateful Dead concerts to building sukahs and Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations, we have had a diverse range of experiences. And through good times and challenging times, we have been together and if anything, we have grown closer every year that passes.

And so, I feel that I have led an amazing life, and that I should thank you for allowing me to live out my dreams — whether its running marathons, defending Israel from her enemies, or just sitting back and admiring the view of the Holy Land from this hilltop village we call Neve Daniel.

But as the holiest time of the year gets closer — a time when Jewish tradition says that you are most attentive to our prayers, I have a request to make.

I want more.

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