Canadians to run in Israel for kids with special needs

Eitan Cohen, right, and Ofra Zarbiv at the 2014 Shalva event

TORONTO — Some 50 Canadians will join more than 300 runners from around the globe to represent Shalva in the annual Jerusalem Marathon next month. 

Shalva is one of Israel’s premier institutions that cares for and supports children with special needs and their families. The Hebrew letters shin, lamed, vav, heh comprising the name Shalva stand for “liberating the child with special needs and their family.” In Hebrew, the word shalva means, “peace of mind.”

Team Shalva, now in its fifth year, unites runners of all backgrounds and ages in preparation to walk, run, or both, in the upcoming Jerusalem full, half, 10-km, and 5-km runs. Participants can also take a Shalva child on an 800-metre community race. Runners are raising money for Shalva – the Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel.

“The Canadian Friends of Shalva will have 50 participants lacing up to run the marathon this year including mother-daughter and father-son teams,” said Johanna Brooks, executive director of Canadian Friends of Shalva. 

“Bnei Akiva Schools of Toronto are the first organized school group from Toronto participating. They have close to 25 participants who have helped raise awareness of Shalva and the community through their students and parents.”

This year’s run will take place March 13 and raise funds for Shalva’s therapies and programming. Shalva’s children also train for the marathon.

With awareness and commitment, Team Shalva’s spirit and passion continues to grow.

“Four years ago, we had 17 international runners. One year later we had 50. Last year, there were 170, and this year, Shalva has over 300 runners from Israel and around the world,” said Brooks.

Dedicated Toronto supporter Marla Buck has participated in the marathon year after year.

“We think hours of training, rest and proper nutrition prepare us to run a marathon, but there is no preparation for the marathon of disability. 

“We run surrounded by 5,000 fellow Jews, a tapestry of life and history, and a people who challenge adversity daily. Blind veterans tethered to fellow soldiers, army platoons with packs on their backs, and flags waving proud, all running with the kids of Shalva, as they burst with joy and elation. These are our trainers and our role models. They teach us the lessons we think we teach them,” Buck said.

Toronto participant Lisa Erlick has raised $19,000 so far for Shalva.

“I lost a child to cancer. I am dedicating this run/walk in memory of my beloved son Evan who, less than a year after having his bar mitzvah in Israel, succumbed to the brain tumour that took his life,” Erlick said.

“The whole idea of going to visit Shalva, raising money for them and pushing a child in a wheelchair resonated with me. Evan would be very proud,” she added.

“If you raise a minimum amount of $3,600, Shalva will cover your round trip airfare and hotel stay during the marathon, from March 12 to March 15. Participants will attend a pre-race party where they will meet fellow runners from across the world, enjoy the music of a Shalva band made up of Shalva children and a post-race victory party, including a weekend Shabbat experience,” Brooks said.

Shalva was founded in 1990 by Kalman and Malki Samuels after their experience raising their son, who was rendered blind, deaf and hyperactive by a routine vaccination at the age of 11 months.

Believing that the care of children with special needs should not be left to the family alone, Malki and Kalman tried to create a therapeutic environment in which children with special needs could thrive and grow. From humble beginnings, today Shalva has become a leader in disability awareness and intervention in the Middle East. All programs and services are provided free of charge.

“For the parents of special needs children, our race is run every single day. There is no Shabbat. There is no vacation. There is no time off from training, not even for an injury,” said Nicole Schiavi Jansezian, a Shalva mother who participates in the marathon every year. 

To learn more, visit: www.shalva.org.