On Sunday, October 30th, Jewish Federation Los Angeles will proudly hold our 4th annual Tour de Summer Camps, the community-wide cycling fundraiser that helps provide scholarships to send more of our kids to Jewish summer camp and help them build a lifelong connection to Jewish identity and values. Each year, hundreds of community members fundraise for months, do training rides, and show up to bike our course for either 18, 36, 62 or 100 miles.
This year, we are profiling a few of our riders to find out why they participate in Tour de Summer Camps. Jeffrey Kaplan, longtime Federation supporter, veteran rider and Outreach Chair for Tour de Summer Camps, is looking forward to this year’s event. Read his interview below and join him this October!
How many years have you been riding in Tour de Summer Camps?
Jeffrey Kaplan: This is the fourth year I’ve been doing it. I’ve ridden every year.
How many miles are you riding?
JK: This year I’m hoping to ride 62 miles. I’ve been doing 36 and decided I’m a glutton for “punishment.”
Are you on a team?
JK: I signed up as a team with Adat Ari El Angels. We have three riders right now and are accepting other riders from our synagogue.
Why do you ride in Tour de Summer Camps?
JK: It’s an amazing cause and it’s essential to create future leaders of our Jewish community and to give children the experience that I had and have given to my family. There’s nothing like it.
Where did you and your family go to camp?
JK: I went to Camp Ramah and my three girls also currently go to Camp Ramah.
What would you say to people who might be nervous about the distance of the ride?
JK: I think it’s very doable and there are different rides. You can do 18 or 36 if you don’t feel like you’re up to doing longer rides. Also, there are plenty of rest stops. It’s not a race, so you can take your time and there are always people there cheering you on and helping you get through the ride.
We look forward to tracking Jeffrey’s progress as he trains in preparation for the ride.
Join Jeffrey out on the Tour de Summer Camps course this October 30th! Sign up to ride, volunteer or donate today!
Questions? Please visit the Tour de Summer Camps website or contact Mitch Hamerman at MHamerman@JewishLA.org.
