A Great Morning for Running Yields A Perfect Day for Chai Lifeline’s Kids

They came from around the world with just one purpose: to run for Chai Lifeline’s children. And on January 27, 230 members of Team Lifeline raised $1 million to send children to Camp Simcha, named in memory of Dr. Samuel Abraham, and Camp Simcha Special, named in memory of Zvi Dovid Obstfeld, Chai Lifeline’s overnight camps for children with life-threatening or lifelong illnesses.

The sun rose over the MacArthur Causeway soon after the runners began. The bright white of cruise ships dazzled their eyes, as did the mansions lining much of the route. The sight of Miami’s early risers, lazily sipping lattes at coffeehouses along the route might have been disheartening, but for the shouts of encouragement they offered as Team Lifeline members ran past.

Members of the team were easily visible in their bright blue and yellow shirts. They shouted encouragement to one another throughout the course, and basked in the support of other runners and spectators who urged them on in their run against the despair of illness. A contingent of Camp Simcha campers, counselors, and Chai Lifeline parents made the cause more personal

In addition to more than 35 current and former counselors from Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, this year’s team included several teens whose summer vacations are spent at Chai Lifeline’s ground-breaking overnight summer camps for seriously ill children and teens. Three teenage campers competed in wheelchairs, pushed by their counselors for 13.1 long miles. Riding a customized wheelchair, fourteen-year-old David Beiss, and his counselor, A.Y. Mernick, placed second in the wheelchair division. Hudi Arieh, who was pushed by her counselor, Goldie Weingarten, placed sixth in the division, and second among women. Division head Roy Naim’s shirt said simply, “For Grant!” in honor of a camper who had lost his battle against illness. “Grant always smiled, no matter what was happening. He was with me every step of the way,” he said. Among the parents of Chai Lifeline clients who ran was Sara Porush, whose family has received support since the birth of her oldest son, Dovi, who was diagnosed with familial dysautonomia, a genetic disorder, soon after birth. “We have not had an easy six months with Dovi. He’s broken his leg three times and had a corneal abrasion over 100% of his cornea. But here I am. I won’t be fast, but when I finish, I will know that I have overcome the odds, persevered, and done something amazing, both for myself, and for Dovi and all the children of Chai Lifeline as well,” she told the group at the pre-race pasta party on Saturday night.

Everyday people become heroes to themselves and Chai Lifeline Rabbi Pesach Sommer, a teacher at Yeshiva University High School (MTA), and his student, Ben Rutta, hadn’t planned to run together. In fact, in class, teacher and student had enjoyed a friendly rivalry about their training. But when Rabbi Sommer saw Ben at mile 12, he began to match the teen’s stride, encouraging him with every step. They passed the finish line together, then held each other, “partially from joy and partially to keep from collapsing,” he laughed. “I signed up for Team Lifeline to give myself a challenge,” said Ari Shapiro after the race. “Now I’m ready for more!”

“Team Lifeline shows that you can do anything you put your mind to,” remarked Ari Weinberger, the group’s chairman, at the end of the race. “Our runner range from people who never ran a block to those who qualify for the Boston Marathon. But the true winners are the kids and families of Chai Lifeline, who are in a marathon for their lives every day of the year. The desire to help them has fueled the growth of the team from 27 runners in 2006 to 230 today and helped us raise $1 million this year alone.

“We’re looking forward to breaking that record in 2009.”