Sullivan County Business Leaders to Raise Money for the Center for Discovery in Bergen to Bethel Century (100) Mile Charity Bike Ride

Middletown, N.Y. – MAY 17, 2018, – On Friday, June 1st, a group of avid cyclists from Sullivan County, will set out on an annual Century 100-mile bike ride from Bergen County, New Jersey to Bethel, New York. Known as the “Bergen to Bethel” or “B2B”, the 100-mile distance ride was organized 8 years ago by Alan Scharfstein, President, The DAK Group, Ltd. A group of Alan’s friends from New Jersey and Bethel, including Hal Teitelbaum, MD, JD, MBA, Managing Partner and CEO of Crystal Run Healthcare have joined in the rigorous but fun adventure over the years and will participate again this year.  

Each year, a handful of cyclists travel from Alan Scharfstein’s home in Bergen County, NJ to his home in Bethel, NY. The “all uphill ride” includes roughly 8,000 feet of climbing steep hills including Hillside Road in Barryville after 85 miles of riding, followed by the traditional stop for ice cream at The Corner in Eldred, NY.

For the first time, the group has decided to turn their annual event into a charity bike ride to benefit The Center for Discovery (TCFD) - a provider of healthcare and education services for more than 1,200 children and adults with complex disabilities, medical frailties and Autism Spectrum Disorders, located in Sullivan County. The Center for Discovery, designated as a Center of Excellence by the New York State Department of Health and OPWDD, is a major research and specialty center that offers residential, medical and special education programs as well as world-class Music and Creative Arts Therapy, Adapted Physical Education, and a biodynamic agricultural program among other unique services.

“The ride is a labor of love, the brainchild of Alan Scharfstein, an avid cyclist and resident of Bergen County, New Jersey and Bethel, New York, of course. Like life itself, the ride is all uphill, but we love it nonetheless. While thinking about the ride this year, Alan thought that if were having this much fun, we need to pay it forward for the benefit of others—and having friends with family members who live and receive care at The Center for Discovery, it was the obvious choice to serve as the beneficiary of our first ever charity ride,” said Hal Teitelbaum, MD, JD, MBA, CEO of Crystal Run.

“On behalf of The Center for Discovery, we are honored to be the very first recipient of the ‘Bergen to Bethel’ 100 mile charity bike ride this June. Because of the tremendous support we receive – both in our community and beyond – we are able to continue to provide groundbreaking services to the individuals in our care. We are grateful to benefit from such a wonderful event,” said Richard D. Humleker, VP for Development, The Center for Discovery.

Corporate sponsors of the B2B include Crystal Run Healthcare, The DAK Group, Ltd, EisnerAmper LLP and Murphy, Miller & Baglieri, LLP. Participating cyclists will raise funds through corporate sponsorships and personal donations of which TCFD will be the beneficiary. Anyone that wishes to participate in the ride or sponsor a rider may contact Alan J. Scharfstein at ajsdak@gmail.com for more information.