Ryan's Bar Mitzvah Project

For my bar mitzvah project I am going to raise money for an organization called Bartali Youth in Movement. This organization is named after an Italian biking champion, Gino Bartali who won the Tour de France twice 10 years apart. During World War II, he carried fake documents in his bike frame to help Jews escape Italy. Bartali - Youth in Movement has been operating a network of cycling centers for at-risk youth aged 13 to 18 in youth villages, boarding schools, and rehabilitation centers in Israel since 2019. These centers strive to enable youth who have encountered challenges to regain control over their lives, find a sense of belonging, establish a growth mindset, and develop ambitiousness through long-distance cycling. After October 7, Bartali planned and implemented "The resilience plan for the communities of the Western Negev", which supports these communities' long-term through the establishment of youth cycling centers as sources of routine and support. I picked this organization to donate to since I enjoy mountain biking at camp each summer and each year I look forward to doing it again next summer. I think mountain biking is a great way to relieve stress and I want Israeli kids who need it the most to have this experience. I also care about the story of Gino Bartali. Four of my great grandparents were Holocaust survivors, so Gino Bartali is a hero to me since he helped Jews like them survive.