Running for cancer in Jerusalem

JACK MILNER

However, the 2017 marathon – last week Friday – was especially significant for two reasons: Firstly, it marked 50 years since the reunification of the capital, Jerusalem and was also the largest marathon to ever to take place in the city.

Most notably, however, it was used to raise money for victims of cancer. The Israel Cancer Association invited athletes from all over to make the experience more meaningful by taking on a double personal challenge, namely to complete the race and contribute to the fight against cancer by raising funds for this laudable cause.

South African organisation DL Link, which offers lifestyle and emotional support to patients and families of cancer sufferers, wholeheartedly responded to the call. Originally the idea was to send just 12 people to take part, but the numbers swelled to 57 by the time they left.

Every person contesting one of the events, ran for either someone who had died of cancer or someone who was dealing with the disease. The name of that person was written on the back of their shirts.  

More than 30 000 runners, including approximately 3 500 international athletes representing 65 countries, thronged the streets of Jerusalem, clogging traffic but giving the city a festival atmosphere on a cool, overcast morning.

Approximately 2 000 ran the full marathon, another 6 000 competed in the half-marathon, more than 10 000 in the 10km and the remaining participants took part in the family and community races, which included a 5km walk.

“They took to the streets of Jerusalem and were carrying in their hearts and literally on their shirts, the names of ‘DL Link family’ members who are enduring their own challenge as they struggle through chemo, radiation, surgery, treatment and convalescence – to the finish line – remission and refuah… indeed a true marathon for them,” explained DL Link director Michelle Goodman.

“The team of 57 comprised businessmen and women, families, yeshiva bochurim and girls, a batmitzvah girl with her mom and bobba, and even a little four-year-old who did the 5km walk.”

The young boy is Dani Eliason who participated for a nine-month-old baby who is undergoing treatment. The next youngest was Hannah Farber who was in Israel for her batmitzvah. She ran for a cousin in America who died.

From an Israeli point of view, Olympic judoka medallist Ori Sasson, who won bronze in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, ran with Israel’s veteran hero from Operation Tzuk Eitan, Yehuda Yitchak Hayisraeli, who was injured trying to save Hadar Goldin. Yehuda’s comrades came out to join him and Sasson.

Sasson’s name made international headlines in Rio when he defeated Islam El Shahaby in the first round, with the Egyptian refusing to shake his hand – in a gesture of non-sportsmanship.

Also among the participants were dozens of victims of terrorist attacks, who attended the race as a group sponsored by the OneFamily organisation, supporting terror victims and their families.

The race was won by Shadrack Kipkosgei, 26, of Kenya, who completed the 42km course in 2 hours, 17 minutes and 35 seconds, about a minute slower than his winning time in last year’s marathon.

At the finish line, one sweaty participant proposed to his fiancée, who ran alongside him, as bystanders cheered. Mayor Nir Barkat, a jogging enthusiast who attends the Jerusalem Marathon regularly, was the first to congratulate the couple.

With all that happened, one can understand why he said: “The Jerusalem Marathon is not just a sporting event, it’s a spiritual event. We’re in the Holy City of Jerusalem, running where kings and prophets walked, where the Bible happened.”