Two hundred Team Yachad runners from across North America—joined by an additional 200 family and friends to cheer them on—gathered in Miami this past January to participate in the Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon. Some of the Yachad participants were in jogging strollers pushed by a partner; others ran, jogged and walked. Yachad’s marathon weekend, lasting from Thursday through Sunday, is known to bring people together from all walks of life to enjoy Shabbat, hear from inspirational speakers, participate in ruach, and prepare for the physical adventure of Sunday’s run.
The runners, many of whom trained for months, had a clear goal: to raise funds for Yachad-National Jewish Council for Disabilities, the OU’s program that provides social, educational and recreational programs for Jewish individuals with disabilities. This is the team’s seventh consecutive year participating in the Miami race.
Three Team Yachad runners moments after crossing the finish line at the Miami Marathon and Half-Marathon. From left: Oren Neuwirth of New Rochelle, New York; David Orlansky of New York City; and Yoni Steinfeld of Woodmere, New York.
“The weekend [prior to the race] is really a celebration of the months and months of work our runners have put into both fundraising and training,” says Eli Hagler, Associate Director of Yachad. “This one weekend helps Yachad provide hundreds of programs as well as thousands of dollars of scholarship money to help Yachad members all over the world participate in our programs.”
“Crossing the finish line was empowering,” says Shira Hochberg, a Yachad supporter from Teaneck, New Jersey, with no prior race experience.
Although the massive snowstorm that blanketed the East Coast created travel complications after the race, the Team Yachad staff did everything they could to ensure that every participant was taken care of, from changing hundreds of airline flights to covering hotel and catering accommodations.
If you missed this year’s Miami marathon, don’t despair! Upcoming Yachad marathons include:
Jerusalem Marathon: Half-Marathon and 10K, March 18, 2016
Toronto Marathon: Half-Marathon and 5K, May 1, 2016
Or “Your Race, Your Date—Anytime, Anywhere!” You can participate in any event taking place anywhere at any time. Let Team Yachad know which event you are participating in and Yachad will help you raise money while accomplishing a great personal goal.
Go to teamyachad.com to register today.