A Cause Worth Coming Back For: Spotlight on Deborah Rivel
For Deborah Rivel, Wheels of Love has never been just a bike ride.
Since first joining the ride in 2017, her connection to ALYN Hospital has taken her from cyclist to American Friends of ALYN Hospital staff member and back again. Along the way, Wheels of Love also introduced her to someone who would become an especially important part of her life: her husband, David.
“This year will be my fourth Wheels of Love ride,” Deborah said. “The very first one I did was in 2017, where not only did I have the experience of a lifetime, but I also met my husband, David. So that was a good year.”
Deborah first learned about Wheels of Love through friends from her synagogue who had participated in the ride many times. Hearing about their experiences—and about the work of ALYN Hospital—made her want to see it for herself.
“It just sounded like a wonderful organization and a great experience, and I just had to go,” she said. “I’m so happy that I was able to make that happen in 2017.”
Deborah’s connection to ALYN deepened when she later joined the staff of American Friends of ALYN Hospital, allowing her to experience Wheels of Love from both sides—as a rider and as a member of the team behind the event.
That connection became especially meaningful during the 2024 ride, when Deborah returned to Israel following the October 7 attacks. In a year marked by uncertainty and pain, the presence of international riders took on a deeper significance, offering both practical support for ALYN and a powerful reminder of solidarity with the people of Israel.
“As Americans, we were so happy to be there and to feel like we were doing something good,” she said. “And the Israelis were so happy to have us there.”
For Deborah, the experience was unlike any previous ride.
“There was just a lot of love and appreciation and gratitude,” she said. “It was a unique year, it was a hard year, and it was a very, very special ride.”
Her years of involvement with ALYN have also given Deborah a close look at what makes the hospital different.
“I always say ALYN Hospital is Israel’s best-kept secret, and I wish that wasn’t the case,” she said.
What stands out most to her is ALYN’s holistic approach to pediatric rehabilitation. The hospital looks beyond a child’s immediate treatment, working with families, schools and communities to help ensure that the progress made at ALYN continues into everyday life.
“The way they treat not only the child, but also the family and the community and the school—their holistic approach to care is best in class,” Deborah said.
That approach helps children work toward greater independence and mobility while building the support systems they need for long-term success.
For Deborah, Wheels of Love is an opportunity to support that work while experiencing Israel in a way few people ever do.
Her advice to someone considering joining the ride is simple:
“Do not miss the opportunity to see Israel in a new way, to support an amazing, amazing organization, and to have the experience of a lifetime,” she said. “Come ride with us.”
