Ma’ayanot Rapids Prepare to Run for Team Shalva

Several students from Ma’ayanot spent a good part of their yeshiva vacation training for the Jerusalem Marathon, where they will represent Team Shalva on March 17. This is the third year that the school will be running to support Shalva, the Israel Association for the Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities.

“We have our largest group ever going from Ma’ayanot–32 girls and three chaperones,” says Ms. Sarah Gordon, Ma’ayanot Director of Student Activities and Experiential Education, who will be running with the students. Two other chaperones traveling with the team are Ms. Jennifer Sanders, the school’s Athletic Director, and Dr. Rayzel Yaish, Director of Guidance.

Students can choose to run either the 10K or the half marathon. Of the 32 students running, three girls–Tamar Zinkin, a junior, and seniors Tamar Lieblich and Gabi Dube–are joining the team for the second time. “The run was so much fun and so meaningful to me. How could I not do it again?” said Zinkin.

Each student is expected to raise $2,800, but many have already exceeded their goals. Several students ran bake sales as fundraisers. Four freshmen–Sophia Altman, Talia Adler, Allie Orlinsky, and Tali Safran–raised $2,600 selling 50 types of cakes, cookies, babka, and more, before Thanksgiving. Four sophomores–Adira Barber, Danit Forman, Leora Fischman, and Shoshi Blech–raised an additional $540 in a Chanukah bake sale.

“Shalva is extremely important to all of us,” said Altman. “We all feel very passionate about inclusion for all children, regardless of their disability.”

“Our team goal is to raise $90,000 for Shalva,” adds Ms. Gordon. As of now, they are well on their way, exceeding $70,000 in fundraising. Shalva’s programs provide an all-encompassing range of services for hundreds of individuals with special needs, from infancy to adulthood. In addition, Shalva supports and enables families to raise their children with disabilities within the family framework. Shalva partners with government, academic and philanthropic institutions in advocacy efforts to create a more inclusive society.

In addition to the race, Ma’ayanot students will enjoy touring sites organized by Shalva, including trips to Har Herzl, Yad Vashem, a kumsitz at the kotel, and a carnival for the Shalva children, which will be run by the high schoolers.