Thanks for donating to our cause, don't be ashamed to "give and go", we appreciate that your time is precious and we are very grateful for your donation but if you can please read about the cause that we are supporting this year that is close to our hearts.

UJIA North for North Charity Cycle Ride 2012 enabling UJIA to fund Kishorit - a unique special needs community - & The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Trust

Established in 1997, Kishorit is a unique community for adults with a variety of special needs, including mental illness and physical and learning disabilities. Modeled on a kibbutz, Kishorit provides a supportive environment for its 150 members who benefit from communal life, therapy and the opportunity to work and contribute to its economic prosperity.
As well as contributing to the community’s economic prosperity, work is key to residents’ rehabilitation. Most have no experience of regular work and jobs in the kibbutz give them independence and a sense of purpose. Kishorit has already established a number of for-profit enterprises including an organic goat dairy, wooden toy workshop and TV production studio.
To generate income and provide a range of employment opportunities for its members, Kishorit needs to expand its economic infrastructure. Therefore, it has established a vineyard and is planning a boutique winery.
The benefits of this enterprise include:
 ·       Providing vocational training and skills to Israelis with special needs
·         Creating 30-25 new jobs
·         Promoting  Kishorit’s economic sustainability by generating essential income
·         Enabling the community to absorb new members
Kishorit is now entering into a new, exciting phase. UJIA has already helped to get the vineyard off the ground, but the enterprise need significant investment to grow, in particular, by refurbishing an existing building to become a permanent winery to crush, ferment and bottle the wine on site. This new facility will empower Israelis with physical and mental disabilities to lead productive, independent lives.
UJIA’s program is focused and effective, and expands the horizon of hope for the residents of the Galil, providing new opportunities for all its citizens, Jew and Arab, religious and secular, to build a positive future for themselves, the region and Israel.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy, this genetic disease first came to our attention as one of our riders has sadly had a child diagnosed with the condition. Naturally we are all keen to do whatever we can to assist in anything that may one day bring a cure to this condition.

About The SMA Trust
The SMA Trust is a UK registered charity.  It is working to fund medical research into Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA).  Their objective is to be active and progressive in the search for a cure for SMA.  The charity was founded in 2003 and is the only UK charity solely dedicated to funding research into the condition.  The charity funds research not only in the UK but across Europe and the US.  The SMA Trust helped create SMA Europe, an umbrella organization that chooses, funds and monitors research projects all over Europe. They are dedicated to ensuring that money raised is used to support the most successful and progressive centres of research into Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

You can join us to be part of this unique venture. We want even more Israelis with special needs to fulfill their potential. And with your support we can make this happen.