International Medical Volunteer

Trip of a Lifetime for Chronically Ill Teaneck Siblings

Racheli and Tzvi Herzfeld share a bloodline, a last name and, the same disease that often deprives them of vacations like the one they were so eagerly anticipating.

On Tuesday, however, the siblings from Teaneck shared the same plane as they departed from Newark Liberty International Airport. They were among the 150 children and young adults ages 5-23 from the volunteer-based, non-profit organization Kids of Courage who took off for eight days of camaraderie and sight-seeing cross country in San Francisco. 

"I'm pretty excited," Tzvi Herzfeld, 14, said before the trip. "It's my first time going on a plane, so I'm really excited for that."

Added Racheli Herzfeld, 11: "I'm really excited because I've never been so far away from home."

The Herzfeld siblings rarely go on extended outings. They each suffer from Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease , which causes them to lose muscle tissue and touch sensation in both their feet and legs. Although the affliction is not fatal, the muscle atrophy significantly impairs the patient's motor skills.

Cognizant of how many children and young adults, like the Herzfelds, are sidelined because of the diseases of varying severity they fight, the trio of director Ari Adlerstein, medical director Stuart Ditchek, M.D., and CEO Howard Kafka founded Kids of Courage three years ago.

"I think we all recognized that these kids and their families were in very unique situations with year-round boredom and not having normal friend networks and social networks," explained Ditchek. "We really wanted to have things for them to look forward to."

Before boarding the plane and going west to see the Golden Gate Bridge, though, there is an extended laundry list of logistics that required months of advanced planning for a 500-person travel party that includes 350 volunteers that is "30 percent" bigger than any previous trip, Ditchek said.

"I think it's probably as big an undertaking as any organization has had in terms of volume," he said.

Volunteer with International Medical Volunteers Association

The International Medical Volunteers Association (IMVA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes, facilitates, and supports voluntary medical activity through education and information exchange. Our interests are primarily in developing countries. Formed in 1996, we work with a wide range of volunteers: physicians, dentists, nurses, therapists, hospital administrators, public health specialists, technologists, health educators, missionaries, physician's assistants, students and others interested in health care. We provide information about volunteer opportunities and offer practical advice on how to find and choose compatible assignments. We do not, however, send or sponsor volunteers ourselves. We facilitate volunteering by providing educational materials about health problems in various parts of the world and on how to function effectively while abroad. Most importantly, we attempt to motivate healthcare workers to aid those most in need. The IMVA assists volunteer-seeking organizations, principally non-governmental organizations (NGO's), in locating volunteers to work in their programs and by providing a forum for project cooperation, information, equipment and supply exchange. Every year thousands of people donate their time to help combat disease and suffering in developing countries. Many work at home in support activities such as raising funds and collecting supplies. Some volunteers travel to lend a hand in person. They are a varied group including doctors, nurses, therapists, students, technicians, religious, missionaries and other dedicated persons with non-medical training. Some work independently, but most are at least loosely affiliated with a group or organization. Many come from North America or Europe to team up with local personnel. Many are able to give a week or two at a time, but some dedicate years or even a whole career. Short-term volunteers often travel at their own expense, sometimes even bringing with them donated supplies, money and medicines.

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