For my Bar Mitzvah, I will be cycling a 33 km course to raise money for WIZO. It will follow the locations that have played a major part in my life, starting at Lochinver House School in Potters Bar and ending at City of London School.

WIZO is a charity which provides vocational training, facilities for the elderly, affordable daycare for children and after-school youth clubs for the whole Israeli community, both Jewish and Arab. WIZO means a lot to my family: my father is a trustee of WIZO.uk and my grandmother has been involved in fundraising for WIZO for most of her life.

Last year, I visited the WIZO youth centre in Afula where I learnt about the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programme, which provides an enjoyable and meaningful ceremony for children less fortunate than me. As well as having a party and learning together, they are presented with a Siddur, Teffilin or silver candlesticks. They are also taken on a trip to Jerusalem and the Kotel. For some, this is the first time they will have been there.

I was surprised to hear that some of these children wouldn’t have a Bar/Bat Mitzvah without WIZO’s help, as their parents couldn’t afford the cost of it all. So I have decided to raise money for WIZOuk who sponsor the programme (and will also be making a donation myself from the gifts I receive for my Bar Mitzvah).