Riding custom-designed bicycles, 100 children with autism and other special needs will pedal forth together on Sunday, June 26, to escort a trio of cyclists at the beginning of Bike 4 Friendship, a cross-country tour. The bikes will be provided by Olivia's Friendship Cycle, conceived by 12-year old Olivia Lefkovits as part of her Bat Mitzvah project.
The seven-week, New Jersey-to-California event will promote the mission of Friendship Circle, a nationwide organization connecting teenage volunteers with children and teens with special needs to foster a sense of companionship and community. The three cross-country cyclists – Daniel Saul of Pittsburgh, Zalman Perlman of Los Angeles, and Shmuel Rothstein, a Baltimore native – are seeking to enhance awareness and understanding of the unique gifts of those with special needs.
The Friendship Circle (www.fcnj.com) pairs teenage volunteers with children and teens who have special needs, with a goal of providing companionship and a welcome respite for families. Children and teens with special needs and their families benefit from home visits, recreational group programming, life skills training, winter and summer camps and athletic opportunities. In addition, the Volunteer Club offers meaningful educational and social events for the teen mentors.
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The Friendship Circle is rapidly expanding, with more than 84 locations worldwide. The organization has cultivated friendships between 5,000 special children and nearly 11,000 teen volunteers.
