On Sunday June 24, at Allianz Park, thousands of people came together to walk, jog, run or otherwise negotiate their way around the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run 2018. This is one of those glorious events without a downside. You get to spend quality time with friends, family and members of your own community, get a little fitter in the process and raise funds for a participating Jewish charity of your choice. If you haven’t yet signed up you can do so here and you will find a complete list of all the charities here.
There is a run for everyone, so if you have yet to enter or perhaps need a little inspiration to get your running shoes on to train for the big day, read on for some stories of people who overcame, illness, disability and trauma, some of whom will be present to participate in one of our community’s most joyous events.
British Friends of Rambam Medical Centre
Gil Rustin was born with two club feet. Three years ago he could not walk. Following surgery at the Rambam Medical Centre, Gil ran 5K last year. Gil’s surgeon, Professor Mark Eidelman, is coming to the UK especially to run with Gil.
Anita Alexander Passe, director of the British Friends of Rambam , a national charity established to promote and support The Rambam Health Care Campus located in Haifa, said “Supporting Rambam will help more disabled children to walk and run. Funds will go specifically towards this project..”
Jewish Blind & Disabled
Jewish Blind & Disabled is dedicated to enabling people who have physical disabilities or impaired vision to live independently.
Michael Henriques went blind when he was just 40 years old and he moved into his Jewish Blind & Disabled apartment just over four years ago He has recently suffered a bout of illness and hospitalisation but true to his fantastic spirit this has just prompted him to find a new challenge to help him overcome these setbacks. He has signed up to do the 5km walk at this year’s Maccabi GB Community Fun Run together with his mother, Susan. He has already started some mild training, and is confident of meeting his target on the day.
Jami
Ben will be running 5km for Jami , the mental health service for the Jewish community.
Following a mental health ‘blip’, Ben was admitted to hospital for four weeks in August 2017. After being discharged from hospital, Ben turned to Jami for support.
Ben’s journey with Jami has not only enabled him to explore practical steps to take care of his own mental health, but has also instilled in him a passion to become an advocate for mental health awareness in the community.
Ben has participated in the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run before but this year, Ben has chosen to run for Jami following his experience with mental illness, and to raise funds for Jami services he has personally benefitted from.
The Together Plan
The Together Plan is a UK charity dedicated to the rehabilitation, repair and revival of Jewish community in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. This year not only will there be eight runners taking part in London but they will be joined by representatives undertaking a run in parallel in Minsk, Belarus.
Of these is Boris Bachkovsky, a world champion wheelchair athlete, coach and sports therapist, whose work in promoting and facilitating participation in sport by people with disabilities earned him a presidential award. Boris will be participating along with some of the athletes he supports in his work.
Jnetics
In 2015, Bianca and Gary Sakol participated in the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run and it was there they signed up for genetic screening. They were identified as carriers of Canavan disease following screenings by Jnetics, a charity which tests for carriers of nine major genetic conditions affecting Jews. Knowing what the disorder would mean for their child's quality of life, the Bushey couple decided to terminate the pregnancy. Following this heartbreaking experience, the couple conceived again and now have a gorgeous baby boy called Theo, who is now 18 months old. Jnetics have screened almost 1500 people via community screenings, dedicated clinic at Barnet hospital and its GENEius schools programme.
Chai Cancer Care
This year, Simon and Caroline Tunkel and their children Jack (5) and Summer (3) will be taking part in the 1km run at the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run to say thank you to Chai Cancer Care for its support.
Caroline said: “They say you remember everything about the day you find out someone you love has cancer, but you don’t. The only thing I remember was hearing my Dad say ‘it’s cancer’ and breaking down.
“After the word got out about Dad’s cancer and more and more friends spoke to him the same common phrase was said “have you called Chai?” When the time was right I made that call.
“We are running as a family for Chai because without them so many people would struggle even more than they have to. A cancer diagnosis is enough to break you but knowing that Chai is there for anyone who needs it, is priceless.”
Norwood
Marianne Phillips is running for Norwood, the largest Jewish charity in the UK supporting vulnerable children and families, children with special educational needs and people with learning disabilities.
Marianne said: “Norwood is a fantastic charity which gives people with additional needs the ability to feel included in day-to-day life. I am running for Norwood as I strongly belief in what it stands for and how it can make a big difference to the service user and their family and friends. Having come through a challenging period, I recognise how it impacted my life both physically and mentally. Now I am in a good place – doing well at work. Taking part in the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run will give me a reason to run and keep fit.”
Gesher Primary School
Sarah Sultman is co-founder of Gesher Primary School, which provides specialist meaningful learning environment for children with special educational needs.
She said: “Gesher only opened its doors this year in September 2017 and is overwhelmed by the impact the school has had on its pupils so far. Looking back our first cohort of children often felt misunderstood, anxious and marginalised when they started at the school. Today they are now feeling part of a community and making their first set of real friends. They are developing confidence in ways that we never expected. Reggie is one of those children who started at Gesher having never fitted in to his previous school and was not able to shine in one of his biggest strengths which is running. This year he is taking part in the Maccabi GB Community Fun Run for the first time. We are so proud of him.”
Leket Israel
Leket Israel is the largest food bank and leading expert in food rescue in Israel today. Leket Israel recently started donating hot meals, rescued from hotels and IDF army bases, to Wizo in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood of Jerusalem, that serves as a community centre for locals. In the mornings, elderly women gather for classes but more importantly for camaraderie.
“Most of these women are widowed and their children have moved out so they’re all alone” remarks Aliza, Director of the Centre. “If they didn’t have this centre, they would just sit at home by themselves all day long.”
“The first time we received the hot meals, we all cried” Aliza says. “The idea of having delicious healthy hot meals that were given especially for them was a dream.”
Leket guarantees that each £125 that a runner raises in sponsorship will supply nutritious rescued food for each woman for a year.
UK Friends of Schneider Children’s Hospital
UK Friends of Schneider Children’s Hospital is a group of dedicated volunteers who work to raise funds to buy medical equipment for this compassionate and caring hospital.
In July 2006 Zena Behrman received the devastating news that her one-year-old grandson Zeevi who lives in Israel, had been diagnosed with cancer.
Zeevi received wonderful support from the Schneider Children's Medical. Zena made numerous trips to Israel to visit her grandson during those tumultuous 20 months. Zena together with Zeevi’s other grandma Cynthia Roberts wanted to show their appreciation and thanks to the hospital and hence the UK Friends of Schneider Children's Hospital was born.
The 2018 Maccabi GB Community Fun Run already has over 1,300 members of the community at the starting line. You can cheer on your loved ones from the Family Fun Zone and take part in the raffle to be in with a chance of winning some incredible prizes including flights to Israel and Club Level tickets to a Barcelona home match!
To be part of the run for everyone and raise funds for 78 charities and schools, click here.
