One of the youngest marathon runners raising funds for Jami - The Jewish Chronicle

Shortly after 9.30 this morning, one of the youngest people in the TCS London Marathon will start his race round the 26.2-mile course in aid of mental health support charity Jami.

Max Bailey, who turned 18 only last week - the minimum age to run - is taking part in his first marathon for the charity after it helped his girlfriend and other people he knows who have struggled with their mental health.

The JCoSS student said: “I saw an interview with the world’s youngest marathon runner last year, and I was thinking, that could be me next year. Being the youngest, or at least one of the youngest participants, has made the whole experience even more special and that much more incredible.”

Max will be running alongside five others for Jami, which supports people living with mental illness and distress in the Jewish Community from the age of 11.

Rachel Tureka is taking on her first marathon for her sister, Talia, whose mental illness has meant staying in hospital for the past six years.

Rachel’s dad has been supported by one of the many carers’ groups that Jami runs to help families and carers looking after someone with mental illness.

Rachel, a Great Ormond Street Hospital nurse with her own physical health challenges, began training in December.

Meanwhile, Jami’s umbrella charity, Jewish Care, will see seven competitors racing their way round the capital this morning -making the combined number for both organisations 13 - a lucky number in Judaism.

While Alfie Keene will be raising funds for Jami, Jewish Care has always played a key role in his life as it is where his parents first met and where his dad, Saul, spent his summers as a child at Summerworld, which was then Sinclair House, in Redbridge.

His grandmother, Nettie Keene, was a volunteer there for five years and is now a member of Redbridge Jewish Community Centre.

Alfie Keene is raising funds for Jami[Missing Credit]

After Saul passed away in 2008, Nettie established the Saul Keene Award for Excellence at Jewish Care’s annual MIKE youth leadership awards in Redbridge, which she has presented annually, along with Alfie’s uncle Danny, in recognition of the achievements of future young leaders in the community.

Alfie, who will be running in memory of his dad today, said of Jami, which now falls under Jewish Care: “Jami’s work to support both young people and adults with mental health issues is so important. The marathon is a tough challenge, but it doesn’t come close to the challenges that people with mental illness and distress face every day.”

Alfie Keene with his dad, Saul, after whom a Jewish Care leadership award is named[Missing Credit]

One Jewish Care supporter will be following the footsteps – quite literally – of his grandfather, Martin, himself a former marathon runner.

Sam Steinberg will be running in honour of his granddad, who is now a resident of Jewish Care’s Otto Schiff care home for people living with dementia, on the Maurice and Vivienne Wohl Campus in Golders Green.

Sam Steinberg will be running for Jewish Care, which supports his grandfather, Martin[Missing Credit]

Sam said: “Since my grandpa received a dementia diagnosis, I am doing all I can to bring him joy. We’ve always had an amazing relationship and always been very close. Whenever I tell him I’m running the marathon for him and Jewish Care, he smiles to himself, and I can see the pride in his face. It’s amazing!"

Sam Steinberg's grandfather, Martin Steinberg (centre) running the marathon[Missing Credit]

Sam is not the first person in the family to take after his grandpa. The baton was first picked up by Sam’s brother, Jamie, who ran the marathon last year in aid of Jewish Care. Jamie said: “We can't express how grateful we are to this amazing charity."

Sam Steinberg with his grandfather Martin, himself a former marathon runner[Missing Credit]

Another first-time racer is Joe Klein, who will also be running to raise funds for the health and social care charity and whose parents have been involved with the organisation for a long time.

Having attended Sinclair House as a teenager, Joe now attends the annual YJJC charity dinner, which raises funds for both Jami and Jewish Care.

Joe said: “The marathon is an opportunity for me to give back and to stand proud of my identity.”

Jewish Care marathon runner Joe Klein[Missing Credit]

So far, the young runners have raised some £40,000 between them.

Jewish Care’s director of fundraising and marketing, Ellisa Estrin, said: “We’re so incredibly proud of the commitment and strength of all our runners and thankful to all of them for taking on this amazing challenge to raise vital funds for Jewish Care and Jami, to support our services for children and adults in the community. We wish all the runners the best of luck on Sunday and will be cheering everyone on.”

If you need support or are supporting someone who needs help, visit https://jamiuk.org/get-support/ or contact 020 8458 2223.

If you are struggling to cope or need immediate help, contact Shout’s 24/7 crisis text service. Text Jami to 85258 for free, confidential support. For information advice and support you can also contact Jewish Care Direct helpline at helpline@jcare.org or call 020 0922 2222.

You can donate to the runners, by going to:

2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/first name-surname