As many of you know, this past summer our daughter Keren was suddenly and severely injured while we were abroad in the UK. In the immediate and longer-term aftermath of her accident, we learned firsthand about the heroic efforts of the amazing organizations that support families facing medical crises: from the Great Western Air Ambulance Service who saved Keren's life on the side of a road in a rural village in the Cotswolds; to the Chabad of Oxford, UK, who provided delicious food and a shoulder to cry on while we were stranded far from home; to the Ronald McDonald House at the John Radcliffe Hospital who offered hospital-adjacent housing so we could be with Keren as much as possible; to Hatzolah Air and Hatzolah Chicago, who managed a transatlantic flight for a frightened and immobile patient (and her frightened and exhausted parents); to the Chicago Center, which outfitted our house with hospital-grade medical equipment and loaned us a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. It was surreal and incredibly moving to realize how many ba'alei chessed are quietly and consistently giving of their time and resources to help total strangers who are undergoing medical crises.

When the acute phase of Keren's medical crisis abated, another organization stepped in to provide invaluable help: Chai Lifeline, an international children’s health support network that provides critical year-round programs and services to nearly 6,000 families confronting illness, crisis, and loss. Their volunteers spent hours visiting with Keren and lifting her spirits while she was bed-bound; they sent a generous assortment of games and toys to keep Keren and her siblings occupied over the course of her lengthy recovery; and perhaps most importantly they provided sensitive psychological guidance as our family navigated the aftermath of an incredibly traumatic experience.

Adina and I have donated to Chai Lifeline in the past, and already admired their important work--but seeing it from the perspective of a recipient of their chessed was nevertheless eye-opening. And so as a small gesture of appreciation, I'm helping to raise funds for their 2024 campaign. Next month I'll be running the Miami Marathon as a representative of Team Lifeline. When I previously ran the Jerusalem Marathon with Team Lifeline in 2015, I already had a sense of how important their work is, but participating this year feels so much more personal.

I'd be grateful for any help you can provide to this important organization. You can make tax-deductible donations on my team page here.

Thanks so much, and tizku le-mitzvot!
David