Dear friend,
Please join me in commemorating the 20th anniversary of September 11. As we focus on those in need in our own country, caring for our global citizens remains vital--vital for us as compassionate humans and also, as we learned decades ago, because impoverishment can make regions more hospitable to threats. Afghanistan was the training ground for the 9/11 terrorists.
I am participating in Beyond the Bike, a bike ride from Ground Zero to Boston to benefit Beyond the 11th. Beyond the 11th began as a 9/11 widow's response to unspeakable loss. Susan Retik’s husband David was killed on the first plane to hit the World Trade Center. Susan, with two young children and pregnant with her third, was buoyed by the outpouring of love and support she received from friends and strangers. In grieving and working to understand the roots of 9/11, Susan learned that widows in Afghanistan lose all resources and social standing. Moreover, they have no insurance or safety net, and 85% are illiterate; that cycle is self-perpetuating as their children then have no access to education.
Afghanistan still ranks as the worst place in the world to be a woman (Time magazine, Dec. 8, 2018). After decades of war, terrorism, and insurgency, women and children suffer disproportionately. Susan’s effort to heal led her to help her peers in Afghanistan. She established Beyond the 11th, whose more than $1 million in grants has helped Afghan widows develop sustainable livelihoods, thereby supporting their families and educating their children. But the need persists.
That is why I am fundraising and riding from Ground Zero in New York City to Boston over three days in September with 40 cyclists. We ride in honor of the victims and the rescuers who lost their lives Sept. 11, 2001. We ride to celebrate the countless acts of courage and humanity that have marked the past 20 years. We ride to enable others to improve their lives and their children’s lives.
Being born a woman in Afghanistan should not be a perilous fate made hopeless by being widowed. Please consider commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11 by donating to my Beyond the Bike effort. Your gift is tax deductible and may be doubled if your company has a matching gift program.
Thank you for the work we are doing together.
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Beyond the Bike 2021
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 born out of the compassion we received after 9/11. In the midst of our own loss, we learned about the struggles faced by Afghan widows—limited access to education, few opportunities to earn an income, and little support to provide for their families. We recognized the contrast between the help we were given and the challenges they faced, and we chose to use our spotlight and our voices to help—just as so many had helped us. After more than two decades of serving Afghan widows, Beyond the 11th will be winding down at the end of 2026. This decision comes with both deep reflection and a steadfast commitment to lasting impact. Since 2003, our work has centered on empowerment—supporting widows in Afghanistan through job training, literacy, and economic development. In 2021, we partnered with Razia’s Ray of Hope to launch a dedicated widows program, and since then, we have funded it annually. Now, in our final chapter, we are committed to raising enough money to ensure this program can sustain itself for years to come. This program provides stipends to families of girls who attend the Zabuli Education Center (K–6 school in Deh’Subz) if their mother is widowed or the head of household. The support extends beyond the student to the entire family, ensuring stability and dignity for those most vulnerable.
Our goal is to endow this program for the future, so that widowed families will continue to receive ongoing support long after Beyond the 11th has closed its doors.
While this is the close of one chapter, it is the continuation of another. Together, we can carry forward the mission of hope, resilience, and opportunity for Afghan widows.