ALYNformation

In this issue 

Meet Andrew, an attorney from Sharon, Massachusetts, who will be running his third NYC Marathon – and his seventeenth marathon overall. Andrew only started running in his mid-thirties and did not run his first marathon until age 46. But since then, he has found great fulfillment in combining the physical and mental challenges of training for and running marathons with fundraising for several organizations supporting medical research and treatment. Along the way, Andrew has completed all the World Marathon Majors, becoming a “Six Star Finisher” in Tokyo in 2024. Most recently, Andrew ran the Berlin Marathon for the second time, and once again was overwhelmed with emotion when during the race he passed a memorial sign at a train station indicating that from that station tens of thousands of Jewish people were transported to concentration camps such as Auschwitz/Birkenau and Treblinka. After learning about ALYN’s mission of providing cutting edge, personalized and compassionate care for children with various types of disabilities, Andrew felt a strong personal connection. “It feels like my entire family is in the healthcare field – doctors, nurses, therapists, medical assistants, and dentists – I sometimes feel like a black sheep as an attorney!” Moreover, Andrew has close family members with medical challenges which has him truly appreciate his own good health and which motivates him to run to support health care institutions such as ALYN.  Andrew is looking forward to the amazing crowd all along the route in New York – and to the iconic finish line in Central Park.

The Other Side of Healing

In this issue 

Jeremy Merrin may call Great Barrington, Massachusetts home, but lately, he can be found doing loops around Central Park, preparing for ALYN Hospital’s annual Wheels of Love ride in Israel. For Jeremy, the reason to ride is simple. It starts with the children of ALYN Hospital—and a place he believes everyone should experience for themselves. “The hospital is the most amazing place,” Jeremy said. “Whether you ride or not, take a tour of the hospital next time you’re in Israel.” 

Back to Life, One Goal at a Time

As the NYC Marathon approaches, our Team ALYN runners are training hard and preparing for race day! We’re spotlighting each of our marathoners to share their stories and the connections that inspire them to support ALYN. Meet Anya, a former ALYN nurse who will be running her seventh marathon—and her first NYC Marathon. After making Aliyah in 2008, Anya lived in Israel for nine years and studied nursing at Hadassah Hospital. During her pediatrics studies, she visited ALYN and immediately knew she wanted to work there. Seeing the staff’s dedication and passion, and how much they helped families, inspired her to join the team. She began as a nursing student in ALYN’s independent living section, working with adults with muscular dystrophy, before joining the respiratory unit as a nurse. Reflecting on that experience, Anya says, “I think my time at ALYN shaped me as a nurse.”

“...Wheels of Love is a must. It’s the best ride you’ll ever do.”

In this issue 

Rehabilitation That Sees the Whole Person

Jeff Blye has been riding ALYN Hospital’s annual bike ride, Wheels of Love, for nearly two decades. For Jeff, this is much more than a cycling challenge. It is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of disabled children—and to witness that difference firsthand.

In this issue 

Just over two weeks after beginning my role as Executive Director of American Friends of ALYN Hospital, I boarded a plane to Israel with my family. The trip had been planned long before I accepted this position, but one stop quickly became the centerpiece of our visit: ALYN Hospital.

As Jordan learned more about ALYN’s innovative approach to pediatric rehabilitation and its commitment to serving children from every background, he saw a meaningful connection between ALYN’s work, his family’s legacy, and his own path toward becoming a physician.

Summer has a way of bringing back childhood memories. Riding bikes until the streetlights came on. Running through sprinklers. Jumping into the pool. Building sandcastles at the beach. Climbing playgrounds, chasing friends through the park, and heading off to summer camp with your best friends and a load of mosquito bites.

In this issue 

American Friends of ALYN Hospital recently partnered with Nice Jewish Surfers for a Shabbat dinner and after-party in Los Angeles, bringing together a strong, engaged community of young professionals.