Dear fellow cyclists,
For most of us, cycling is what keeps us healthy, both physically and mentally. However, the ability to ride a bike was taken away from some Israeli cyclists when Hamas terrorists stormed their communities, killing, kidnapping and ransacking. With a little financial support, we can bring a tiny semblance of normalcy and psychic respite for a cycling team whose lives have been shattered.
The Lamdan challenge team is made up of mostly working class athletes from the Western Negev, the area targeted by Hamas terrorists. On the morning of Saturday October 7th, like so many times before the members of the Lamdan team woke up early to go out and train for their next challenge. With the middle east championship scheduled for November 3rd on the horizon the final weeks of preparation were in full swing. All the members of the team live in the kibbutzim, moshavim towns and cities in the Western Negev, known in Hebrew until now as 'Otef Azza'. Meaning they are all a stones throw from the Gaza strip. Many of the team members were in kibbutz Yad Mordechai for a swimming session when the attacks started, one of the more fortunate communities.
An elite team from the Israeli police anti terror squad was at the junction near the kibbutz when the terrorists arrived, in the battle that ensued they were all eliminated and none entered the kibbutz. The Yamam unit fought there and all across the occupied towns of the region, 9 members of the unit were killed, however hundreds of the Hamas islamic jihad terrorists were eliminated by them.
One of the Lamdan team members, Nadav Goldstein and one child were gunned down on his kibbutz, Kfar Azza, his wife and three children kidnapped to Gaza, three more including two teenagers were wounded by gunfire. Another team member, Aya Meidan, was on her way to meet another rider when bedouin workers from her Kibbutz Beeri warned her and she fled for hours on her bike, on foot and with the help of the bedouins. The friend she planned to meet was less fortunate, while on his bike he was gunned down by radical Hamas jihadists. Many of the teams members lost all of their belongings and their homes, as the terrorists destroyed everything in their path. Victims of a pogrom, the likes of which have never occured since the establishment of the state of Israel 75 years ago.
All of those hit now have to cope with the trauma of losing tens of community members, teammates, family, friends etc..
The goal of this campaign is to provide them with cycling gear so they can return to training in safe areas as soon as possible. It may not ever be possibile for them to completely recover, however we are certain that helping them get back out training will provide some initial rehabilitation and a window of hope.
Twenty four team members lost their property and many also their homes in the progroms of Saturday 7 October 2023 from the following communities; Reim, Beeri, Kfar Azza, Kissufim, Ein HaBsor, Sderot, Miflasim, Erez, Nir Am, Nirim, Nativ Ha Asra, Nir Oz, Nahal Oz, and Saad. Funds raised from this campaign will pay for the following at cost: cycling jerseys, bibshorts, tri shorts, accessories such as caps, gloves and socks and as needed cycling shoes and headgear. As a cyclist, you can imagine how important it is to get these fellow cyclists back on their bikes. Thank you for the support.
