Making a marathon into a mitzvah

TALI FEINBERG

“My liver cancer is stable right now, meaning that it hasn’t got bigger or smaller. And I have always been fit. My oncologist told me to never stop exercising. To be honest, exercise has been one of the things that has kept me going. So, when DL Link suggested that I run the marathon, I couldn’t say no!” she says. Her husband, Robert, and daughter, Kelly, will be joining her on the day, although running shorter marathons.

“Just because you have cancer, doesn’t mean you can’t run a marathon or do anything you dream of doing,” she says. “Cancer is no longer a death sentence. With so many clinical trials and new treatments. There is always hope.”

Running in Jerusalem is certainly a symbol of hope for her, and she cannot wait to enjoy the atmosphere on the hills of this holy city.

“DL Link has a fundamental purpose: to ease the pain and suffering of cancer warriors and their families,” says Dani Bloom, also running the marathon. This can involve anything from delivering a challah on a Friday, to celebrating milestones in treatment, to offering support groups for patients and their families.

Bloom says she decided to run after attending the DL Link appreciation dinner in November. While listening to cancer survivors sharing their stories, she was moved to tears. “Uncontrollable emotion overtook me, and I knew I had to do something.”

Bloom has also just turned 40. “Without being too dramatic, the fact that I walk this earth today is a complete miracle, and I felt that it was time to give back for this gift of life, health, and capability. What better way than to run the half Jerusalem Marathon for DL Link!”

Bloom will be running with the names of eight cancer warrior or survivors on her shirt. “This is the spiritual element of the marathon. There are different reasons for running for each person. For example, one of the warriors is the same person my husband cycled for in a race the year before – there’s something in that!

“The main reason for running with warrior names is for a refuah shelaima (healing from illness),” she says. “I will run with my heart and soul. I will think about each of them every step of the way. I will meditate on their names as my feet pound at the stones of Jerusalem. To run for them is the highest honour and privilege. It’s my way of bringing healing to them.”

Bloom will run the half marathon, and she is not sure exactly what to expect on the day. One thing is for sure, however. “I’ve trained as much as I could. I have to have faith that my body is ready. My headspace is strong and determined. I have a purpose, and I have to actualise that goal. That’s all that matters.”

Sharene Loupo was motivated to run for DL Link because, “My mom had a very curable form of thyroid cancer ten years ago, and I remember what we went through as a family. Thank goodness she is okay, but every time she has a scan, the same feelings of anxiety and worry resurface. The disease is soul-destroying. Not only does it make you physically sick, it attacks you and your family. DL Link is there for you to lean on. No money in the world can buy that.”

She will be running with the name of one cancer warrior on her shirt. “A beautiful young lady with a husband and young children, which is so close to my heart as I am a wife and mom too. It sometimes scares me that I might not be able to be there to see my kids grow up and enjoy them to the fullest, and I am sure it scares her too,” she says.

“Hope is something that cannot be bought, but it can be given in various ways. This is my way of giving hope. I will run, walk, and crawl to the finish line if I have to. Therein lies the hope that the battle against this horrid disease can be won.”

Loupo says she is not a natural runner, and she has had to work very hard to push through the mental and physical challenges. “I have been training six days a week to ensure that my fitness and endurance are stretched beyond measure, as the Jerusalem run is very hard. I am also expecting to feel completely overwhelmed with emotion to be running in such a beautiful place with people who are there either to run for a cause or for themselves. We will all be running together to get to the finish line.”

How can the community get involved? “You can spread the word that DL Link is there for all races, genders, and religions,” says Loupo. “It is always looking for volunteers to assist, and no amount of money is too big or small. This can come in the form of signing up for a monthly debit order, once off donations, or contributing towards a certain project. All funds and gestures go into creating a safe haven for people who are fighting the disease and their families.”

Bloom is overwhelmed by the enthusiasm shown by schools, shuls, and individuals who have signed up to help raise funds for DL Link, and she has a total of twelve schools working with her. “The kindness and generosity of this community – and others outside this community – is simply unparalleled. It is phenomenal to witness and be a part of. I feel spiritually elevated and blessed beyond measure.”