It had been on his bucket list for a while – biking across a beautiful foreign country and helping sick children in the process – so Dr. Alan Solinsky, an ophthalmologist and casual bicyclist, became a marathon rider.

From November 10-14, Dr. Solinsky, of Solinsky EyeCare in West Hartford and Hartford Hospital’s Eye Surgery Center, and a college buddy participated in the 20th annual Wheels of Love bike ride fundraiser for ALYN Pediatric Rehabilitation Hospital, the only such facility in Israel.

“I liked the idea of fundraising for a children’s rehabilitation hospital,” said Dr. Solinsky, who raised approximately $21,000 from 150 friends toward the $3 million raised overall. “Also, my father went to Israel 70 years ago, in 1949, to do what he could to help the new country so it seemed like the right year for me to do my ride in his honor.”

Having also been on a Greater Hartford Jewish Federation mission trip that included a bike tour of Tel-Aviv, he also knew seeing the Israeli countryside by bike would be beautiful.

Wheels of Love offers riders – about 500 from across the globe participated this year – five route options based on their riding levels. Dr. Solinsky and his friend rode 240 miles over the five days, including about 5,000 vertical feet per day, a feat he likened to “10 Avon Mountains up and down!”

“This was a phenomenal experience!” he said. “It was the most spiritual, emotional, physical and charitable endeavor I have ever participated in. The hotels, food, logistics, rental bikes, mechanics, lunch and snack breaks were perfect and I met people from 26 countries.”

He was particularly touched by the paraplegic children who pedaled bikes with their hands, with the assistance of parents and coaches, and the 17-year-old boy who was a top rider even though he had been a victim of a terrorist attack three years ago and was treated at ALYN.

Their route straddled the northern Lebanese border, touching the fence, to the Mediterranean Sea, where they went swimming.

“The last day riding up and down the magnificent hills of Jerusalem and coming up the hill to the hospital was so emotional as hundreds of children and adults welcomed us and put medals around our necks,” Dr. Solinsky said.

To prepare for the grueling ride, he amped-up his weekly spinning classes, adding about 200 miles of riding monthly between June and October. He would ride for 30 to 60 minutes each time before and after work, doing hills in his neighborhood. He also rode rails to trails with his daughter on weekends, lifted weights, did a lot of squats and ate better.

“I lost eight pounds and my cholesterol and blood sugars were at all-time bests for me,” he noted. “I also asked a lot of friends who ride for hints and I was prepared with salt pills, lotions, clothing and ancillary bike equipment.”

One of the major changes the 59-year-old made was to start peddling a racing bike in June.

“Initially, I was just going to go on a hybrid bike and do the mellow ride,” he said, “but a good friend of mine who is a triathlete and also raises money for great causes encouraged me to get a racing bike and clip in. I’ve loved it ever since!”

While it was Dr. Solinsky’s first fundraising bike ride, he predicted it will not be his last. In fact, he’s already contemplating a return to Wheels of Love, though on a different, southern desert  course.

“There is something for everyone and you can change your group daily,” he said. “There were hikers, touring bike trips with 20 miles of easy riding and a tour of beautiful parks and ancient ruins and wineries, the road group I was in that did 40 to 50 miles a day, the road plus group doing 50 to 60 miles a day, the challenge group hitting 70 to 80 miles a day and the off-road mountain bike group.

He’s considering the latter for his next ride.

For information on Hartford Hospital’s Eye Surgery Center, click here.