Jerusalem Marathon’s postponement a kink in the road for DL Link

GILLIAN KLAWANSKY

Almost 80 runners, including Seberini, signed up to run the Jerusalem Marathon on 20 March this year to raise funds and awareness for DL Link, a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing support, comfort, healing, and guidance for the patients and families affected by cancer. However, the marathon has been postponed to October as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking on ChaiFM on the cusp of the postponement last week, DL Link’s fundraiser and events co-ordinator, Tammy Lewin, said, “It’s about the bigger picture. DL Link is more than the run. We’ve all taken it on to run for a warrior or in somebody’s memory, and any money still being raised in honour of the marathon in October will go directly to the daily meaningful work that we do at DL Link.”

Michael Rubenstein, a life, relationship, and business coach and marketing expert, was planning to run the 10km marathon for the first time in spite of a hip injury. He’s been working with a biokineticist and physiotherapist to get ready for the race.

Rubenstein decided to run during a DL Link runner’s get together, where he volunteered as a motivator. “There was a young cancer warrior of four-years who has a brain tumour. It struck me that as much pain as I’m in, there are people who are really struggling. I need to do something where I can make more of a difference.” Rubenstein plans to run on behalf of this child as well as another cancer warrior, friend and colleague Nicola Mcgowan. He’s also running in memory of his late father who had Alzheimer’s, as well as three cancer patients who have since died.

With the postponement, Rubenstein is planning to raise the stakes. “I’ve never run 10km in my life,” he says. “But anything that goes beyond your comfort zone gives you the opportunity to stretch yourself.” He’ll now focus on healing, pain management, and staying fit, and is hoping to stretch himself even further in preparation for the October date. “If I can get my running on track and push myself a bit more, I might consider changing to the 21km.” He’s also using the date change to increase his fundraising target, thereby raising more money for DL Link.

Gillian Gresak, also a cancer warrior, has mixed emotions about the cancellation. “I have lung cancer, and was going to walk in memory of my cousin and a dear friend and raise funds for DL Link,” she says. “I’m disappointed that the marathon has been postponed, but I’m also relieved. Because the world, including South Africa, has gone crazy, people like me with a poor immune system who need disinfectant, masks, and so on, can’t buy stock for love or money. I was concerned about being on a plane for so long.”

Seberini was planning to run for two cancer warriors, her uncle Ben Rosenthal and a friend, Mandy Steinberg. “Ben isn’t at all well, and Mandy has just been diagnosed with cancer for the third time,” she says. Seberini isn’t a runner, and has always said she’d never take part in the marathon in spite of the unique and special stories she’s been told by past DL Link teams. “But when DL Link said it would love me to run, I said yes because it’s an experience, and to do something for DL Link would be amazing.”

In training for the marathon, Seberini learned to apply the skills she teaches as a speaker and “mind-freedom fighter”. She helps people to control their feelings and gain mindfulness. “I’ve always hated running, but I put my head down, applied what I teach to myself, and the whole experience changed.”

Seberini hopes to run in October, but says it’s a long way off. “The coronavirus outbreak has caused fear and anticipation. It teaches us that we can plan for so much, but life gives us what it gives us.” No-one is more aware of this inescapable reality than the cancer warriors themselves, whose journeys can’t be postponed.