Beyond the Bike, a 3-day 260-mile bike ride from Ground Zero in NYC to Boston, is the signature fundraising event of Beyond the 11th.

Beyond the Bike 2021 will mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, when co-founder Susan Retik’s husband was killed on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center. Together with Susan, we will ride in honor of all the victims and rescuers who lost their lives that day. But we will also ride in celebration of the countless acts of courage and humanity that have marked the decade since.

Beyond the Bike is so much more than just a bike ride. We begin at the memorial pools at the site of Ground Zero, make our way out of NYC through the rolling hills of CT eventually arriving back in Boston. The 3 days are physically challenging which makes the accomplishment so rewarding. But it’s the people who make the experience so memorable. The small community of riders (we cap it at 45), the incredible support team, and all of the volunteers along the way make this fundraiser the best thing you’ll do all year…

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BEYOND THE 11th GO TO WWW.BEYONDTHE11TH.ORG

Beyond the 11th was founded nearly 20 years ago as an extraordinary response to unspeakable loss: Compassion.

Susan Retik was expecting her third child when the last thing she ever expected happened -- her husband David was killed on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center.  But Susan did not give in to grief.  Instead she launched Beyond the 11th, a foundation dedicated to uplifting the lives of Afghan widows -- among the poorest and most destitute in the world.

Today, the organization she co-founded has transformed the lives of thousands of widows -- and their children -- with life-saving education and job training programs.

Beyond the 11th transcends acts of hate with acts of humanity, acts of despair with acts of ingenuity, and acts of fear with acts of self-reliance.  Its embrace of Afghan widows - sisters across the world - is helping to spread peace hand to hand and heart to heart, one widow at a time.

"I believe education and economic stability are antidotes to despair and extremism.  By teaching Afghan women how to support themselves, we help unlock a world of better choices for them and their children - and that benefits us all."  -- Susan Retik

Where the Money Goes

The fundraising you do for Beyond the Bike has an immediate and powerful impact on the lives of Afghan widows.  Beyond the 11th partners with international aid organizations like CARE, and NGOs like Arzu and BPeace, to provide Afghan widows literacy classes and training in a variety of entrepreneurial ventures.  Graduates of our programs have started many life-sustaining businesses:

·      Raising and selling eggs in their villages

·      Managing dairy cows and selling the milk

·      Hand stitching regulation soccer balls for sale around the world

·      Creating one of a kind hand knotted rugs, distributed by Arzu

·      Investing in and managing Savings & Loans programs, where women lend to women for life's necessities such as education and healthcare