I’m hoping to take on a mission that means a lot to me: raising money for Chai Lifeline and running a half-marathon in memory of my cousin, Menachem Dovid Aryeh ben Rachamim & Rivka.

All the tzedakah raised will be in his memory and for an aliyah for his neshama. The funds will support Chai Lifeline, an incredible organization that provides critical support to thousands of seriously ill children and their families.

Last year, someone asked me, “What does running a marathon have to do with any of this?” Truthfully, I didn’t really know the answer until I attended last year’s Chai Lifeline Shabbaton.

Some of the children and families facing serious illness join us for the weekend. One of the messages we share with them is simple: If we can choose to do something hard, push through it, and make it to the other side, then so can you.

And that made me think of Dovid. He went through hard things, but he continued to show up with happiness. He faced challenges while still bringing joy to the people around him. I can’t think of anyone more fitting to carry with me as I take on something difficult in support of children and families who are facing challenges of their own.

Thank you for helping me honor Dovid’s memory and bring more good into the world.

Yasmine B.