This blog has two
parts. What I have been secretly
planning is revealed in the second part.
Part I: Run Together for Netivot 5K
Netivot’s first ever
5K run was amazing, exciting, and unique.
Here I am on raced day. I worked through the bureaucracy of Netivot, learned many lessons along the way - all that needed to happen now was for runners to arrive.
Fifteen minutes before the race was set to begin, I found myself standing at the registration table alone, thinking my roommates would be the only participants. A group of ten OTZMA fellows suddenly walked around the corner. They lived in the cities of Haifa, Rehovot, Ofakim, and of course Netivot. I had no idea that so many were coming. For many of them, it was their first 5K ever (see Rachel Frank’s blog at http://holylanding.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/surviving-purim-and-a-5k/)!
Here I am on raced day. I worked through the bureaucracy of Netivot, learned many lessons along the way - all that needed to happen now was for runners to arrive.
Fifteen minutes before the race was set to begin, I found myself standing at the registration table alone, thinking my roommates would be the only participants. A group of ten OTZMA fellows suddenly walked around the corner. They lived in the cities of Haifa, Rehovot, Ofakim, and of course Netivot. I had no idea that so many were coming. For many of them, it was their first 5K ever (see Rachel Frank’s blog at http://holylanding.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/surviving-purim-and-a-5k/)!
But that is only the
start of the craziness. Five minutes
later a group of 12 teenagers training for the
army signed up to participate. Then, the head of Netivot security,
Erez, arrived with three patrol cars. Just as we were starting the
pre-race briefing, Netivot's security bike patrol arrived. Imagine a race with 22 participants, and 11
bike patrolmen! Needless to say, the
runners received plenty of motivation from the officers riding beside them. Over the radios, the security officers were placing bets
on who would win the race – Leon my roommate or Elyssa from Haifa. Leon sprinted past Elyssa at
the finish line leaving many officers ashamed to say who they bet on.
Today, I used the sponsorship money to buy a boatload of soccer balls, basketballs, and board games for the kids whom I volunteer with. The generosity of the business owners in Netivot never ceases to surprise me.
Today, I used the sponsorship money to buy a boatload of soccer balls, basketballs, and board games for the kids whom I volunteer with. The generosity of the business owners in Netivot never ceases to surprise me.
The OTZMA contingent with the hand-made finish line. |
Can't have enough security officers on bikes. |
The trophy-bouquets to the left and me working hard on the right.Part II: The Strengthening Bonds Run
On March 12th,
I will leave Rosh HaNikra on a nine day 470 kilometer (300 mile) run to Eilat, the first run of its kind
across Israel by an American. The run will be called
the Strengthening Bonds Run because its objectives are to:
(1) Strengthen the
bonds between Israel and America
(2) Strengthen the
bonds between children and their mentors
I am doing this run to
raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri and Youth Futures - פותחים עתיד, both mentorship organizations that are
very close to my heart. I am also doing the run to raise awareness for the many American-Israeli sister city partnerships.
Here are some details:
I need your help and
support.
In order to reach my goal, I will need you to reach out to your friends, tell them about this project, and get them to the website. Also, as an added bonus for people who donate more than $50, I will run with a message on my back for 10 kilometers and send a picture of me directly to their inbox! Simply email the message to Hendel.Marc@gmail.com and I will take care of the rest.
Please remember, this project is just as much about raising awareness for the sister cities in Israel as it is about donations, so the more people that know, regardless of if they donate, the better. Don't be afraid to send this blog post to your friends. The partnership of Netivot-Philedelphia has changed my life and the lives of many Israelis here. More people should learn about the many partnerships.
By the way, I am not 100% sure that I can complete the run. But I do know that the more of you that support me on my journey will motivate me when I have doubts. Please visit www.RunIsrael.org, see the photo shoot for the run, and donate.
Thank you so much!
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