Club History
The Mitzvah Milers were formed by Club Captain Dan Siegel in 2004 as a fledgling “team” for the Waves to Wine MS Bike Tour in Sonoma County, which raises funds for research and programming for those with Multiple Sclerosis.
Dan had been diagnosed with MS in 2002, just two years after his mother, Joan, succumbed to the disease, and the team was his way to take action. Since then the Mitzvah Milers have evolved into not only one of the top teams at Waves to Wine, in both team size and funds raised, but also become an important builder of Jewish community.
In 2002 and 2003, Dan participated at Waves to Wine with his brother-in-law, Jon Barash, raising $2,000 each year for the MS Society. In 2004, Dan formed the Mitzvah Milers, with 13 friends and family joining him at Waves to Wine and raising $10,000 for the MS Society. In 2005, he began recruiting riders for the Mitzvah Milers from his synagogue, Congregation Netivot Shalom, and the Club grew to a “hai” of 18 riders at Waves to Wine and raised $23,000.
In 2006, Dan decided to see whether individuals at other synagogues would
be interested in joining the Mitzvah Milers at Waves to Wine. The
response was wonderful, with the team suddenly growing to a “triple hai”
of 54 riders, representing a dozen mostly East Bay synagogues of various
affiliations (and Beth Ami in Santa Rosa!), and raising over $50,000! This
made the Mitzvah Milers the number 2 team of 80 at Waves to Wine in both
number of riders and fundraising. In 2006, the Club also began monthly
rides in the East Bay, taking its community
building role beyond Waves to Wine.
In September 2007, the team returned to Waves to Wine with once again
exactly a “triple hai” of 54 riders and raised $45,000 from over
500 donors.
After riding 75 miles through the beautiful wine country of Sonoma County,
the Mitzvah Milers celebrated their accomplishment with a celebration at
the finish area at Lake Sonoma in a sukka decorated by the children of
Club Members.
Get on the Club e-mail list for updated ride information by contacting Dan Siegel at mitzvahmilers@pacbell.net
The Club has now raised over $200,000 to date for the National MS Society. The Mitzvah Milers now have over 150 members from throughout the Bay Area, from over two dozen synagogues as well as many unaffiliated riders. Thank you Mitzvah Milers and our hundreds of supporters for making a difference!
In 2008, the Club had 40 riders at Waves to Wine, raising its best-ever $53,500 from 653 donors. The Club intends to do even more at Waves to Wine in 2009, and continues to have almost weekly casual rides during the Summer and Fall months.