One of Great Neck's own is participating in a charity bike ride and building a local team of support. Dr. Scott Danoff is going to be representing Great Neck in the "Wheels of Love" International bike-ride for ALYN Hospital, which will take place in Israel on Sunday morning, Oct. 28, from Tiberias and will end in Jerusalem Thursday afternoon, Nov. 1.

"I love to bike and I love to travel to Israel. More importantly, I believe in justice and doing the right thing," Scott said. "The ALYN ride is the perfect combination of the three."

Scott, a general dentist with a specialty in prosthodontics, is no stranger to charity. He participated in the "Mission of Mercy" in which he used his dental skills to help those who suffered during hurricane Katrina and has delivered food to the poor in Queens for a charity mission called Tomchei Shabbos, which provides food and other supplies so that poor Jews can celebrate the Sabbath and the Jewish holidays. Dr. Danoff is also a member of the "Give Back a Smile Program," which helps restore the teeth and self-image of victims of domestic violence. Although all great causes, Dr. Danoff's charity work does not stop at America's borders. Perhaps it is even his international work for ALYN Hospital in Israel that has the most meaning to him.

ALYN Hospital in Jerusalem is one of the world's leading specialists in the active and intensive rehabilitation of children with a broad range of physical disabilities. ALYN is a non-profit organization treating babies, children, adolescents and young adults, regardless of religion or ethnic background. The hospital receives minimal funding from the government of Israel and depends on donations and proceeds from events such as the "Wheels of Love" charity bike ride.

The idea that Israeli and Arab children so much less fortunate than himself, with debilitating diseases or injuries sustained in conflict, helps motivate not only Dr. Danoff, but many other members in the Great Neck area to become involved in "Wheels of Love." As a result, Team Great Neck has formed to support such a worthy cause. Current riders along with Dr. Scott Danoff include: Dr. Laura Danoff, Charles Goldberg, Mitch Feldman, Aviva Finkelstein, Cori Franco, Jeff Blye and Adam Bergenfield.

Wheels of Love, Israel's largest sports charity event will begin on Sunday morning, Oct. 28, from Tiberias and will end in Jerusalem Thursday afternoon, Nov. 1. This year, the ride will include four routs: on-road, on-road challenge, off-road and touring, which is a half-day of cycling and a half-day of touring.

The route for 2007 includes scenery up north, including the Golan, the Galilee, the valleys, and a ride down the coast to Tel Aviv. Thursday's ride will ascend to Jerusalem, entering the city as a large group and ending with a festive end-of-the-ride ceremony.

ALYN Hospital is one of the world's leading specialists in the active and intensive rehabilitation of children who have physical challenges and disabilities as a result of congenital muscular, neuromuscular and skeletal disorders, invasive cancer surgery, fires, accidents and terrorist attacks. ALYN treats children from birth to young adulthood, regardless of religion or ethnic origin and is the only facility of its kind in Israel. Absolutely everything needed to rehabilitate a child is under one roof at ALYN and a talented staff combines expertise with love and state-of-the-art technology to help each patient reach his or her highest possible level of mobility and independence.

The Rehabilitation Center is a non-profit that receives no government funding and its extraordinary care is only partially reimbursed from health insurance. Donations are desperately needed to bridge the gap between insurance and the true cost of care as well as to fund research, replacement equipment and renovations.

Donations can be made online at www.ALYNUS.ORG. Please credit Team Great Neck under "Rider's Name."

Checks can also be submitted and made out to "American Friends of ALYN Hospital." Please write Team Great Neck in the memo section. Checks will be collected by Dr. Scott Danoff at 49-33 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, New Yorks 11362.

If your company has a matching gift program, please fax their form to (212) 768-0979.