Today i've been getting really excited for the Israel ride...

I've been hugely concerned at the amount of miles involved and the training really has been pretty brutal, but I spoke with Dr. Plaut in New York today at the American Friends of Rabin Medical Center and just received an email outlining some more details of the ride, and now im just getting excited at seeing so much more of the beautiful landscapes in Israel.

This weekend i'll be training with my brother in Manchester. He has a pretty harsh run through the Northern fields set up for me, so we'll see how that goes and it'll give us some more time to discuss yet more fundraisers that we've been planning!

My good friends Laura Hulme has been putting some designs together for my t-shirts and other random bits that I want to give away with the larger donations, ill post some of her artwork when she's happy with it! Its looking great though, Im loving it so far:)

Thats all for today, ill leave you with something to think about from R. Simmons at Aish:

Big goals, small goals. If you want to make a difference, it's possible.

That's why the Torah juxtaposes the command to "love your neighbor," next to the prohibition "not to stand idly by while another is in need." (Leviticus 19:16-18)

Don't cruise through life as if it's some obstacle course: watch out, here's a human being, manipulate him, push him, score a point, one-upmanship. That's not the way. You have to share the burden.

The Talmud asks, "Why was Adam created alone? So that every person should say, 'the entire world was created just for me.'"

This is a recognition that everything -- including the needs of every other human being -- was created for you. We are all caretakers of this world, responsible to deal with the problems. Everything on earth, problems as well as beauty, offers an opportunity for you to connect and to grow. Every person you encounter is there because you need it at that time. If someone needs help, it's part of your challenge, a message for you.

Look around at absolutely everything and ask, "What is this saying to me? Why was this sent as part of my path to perfection?"

Feel the victims of society. Feel the victims of crime. Feel the victims of terrorism. Feel the victims of old age. Feel the victims of discrimination. Feel the suffering of people you will never meet -- about the plight of strangers halfway around the world.

How do you become real with the suffering of others? To understand the problems encountered by a blind person, for example, try blindfolding yourself for a day. Or go to the hospital and visit patients who have lost limbs. Share the burden.