This year’s Jerusalem Marathon was held on Friday, March 17, 2017, and Matnat Chaim was there!
This is the second straight year that Matnat Chaim has fielded a team to run in the marathon. The group is made up of kidney donors, kidney recipients, family members and friends who came together to support the organization. Team members all wore special shirts, the back of which read, “Just one kidney, but still ahead of you!”
The team’s main purpose was to raise the public’s awareness of the importance of kidney donation. The fact that dozens of kidney donors participated in the marathon is an important statement which underlines the fact that kidney donors continue to lead healthy and active lives after their donation – that it is possible to “donate and keep on running!”
In addition to raising awareness, this year’s running group became an important fundraiser – Matnat Chaim received tens of thousands of shekels due to the fundraising efforts of the team members. The funds will be invested in the efforts to recruit even more kidney donors and to continue to save lives.
Nir Haritan, who donated a kidney several months ago, and was one of the organizers of the team, said, “My appreciation for the value of life changed when I met patients undergoing dialysis treatments.” Nir’s kidney was transplanted into a 21-year old woman and today she is “getting along great, just like a normal, healthy person.”
Members of the team held a special meeting with Nir Barkat, mayor of Jerusalem, a few days before the race. In addition, the runners received a special letter from Matnat Chaim’s chairman Rabbi Yeshayahu Heber before the event, thanking them for their efforts.
Please plan on joining us for the 2018 Marathon!