This February, I will be running in the Miami Marathon as part of Team Lifeline to benefit the children and families of Chai Lifeline. Every mile I run and every dollar I raise will help support more than two-dozen essential programs for nearly 6,000 children and families confronting pediatric illness, crisis, and loss. These services include counseling and case management, meals delivered to hospitals and homes, transportation to medical appointments, emergency financial assistance, insurance advocacy, i-Shine afterschool programming, Big Brothers/Sisters, Project Chai crisis intervention, and Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, Chai Lifeline’s flagship medically supervised summer programs.

This past summer I had the privilege of volunteering as a counselor at Camp Simcha Special. The happiest place on earth, Camp Simcha/Camp Simcha Special provides children with chronic conditions and life-threatening illnesses an opportunity to forget their limitations while experiencing joy and laughter they might have otherwise missed. Cultivating an atmosphere of endless love and unwavering support, these children can enjoy a summer experience of a lifetime, at no cost to the camper’s families. Through Chai Lifeline’s efforts and your generous donations, these children are given the opportunity to decompress and enjoy elements of their childhood that might otherwise be beyond their reach. At the same time, it also serves to unburden camper’s families from the daily grind and allow them to recharge for the stressful months ahead.

Aiden, my Chai Lifeline warrior (bottom of my page), was a kid that made a lasting impression on me at Camp Simcha Special. A force of positive energy along with an emotional depth beyond his years, Aiden is a living embodiment of a warrior. Constantly reminding me how much he looks forward to Camp Simcha throughout the year and how it pushes him through the hard times, I can’t emphasize enough how much gratitude these campers and their families have towards you, the ones that make this possible. It’s kids like these that your generosity, irrespective of the sum donated, is enabling to lead more fulfilled lives.

Life for a child with cancer, disability, or other serious illness can be grueling. From the moment of diagnosis, Chai Lifeline’s dedicated staff and volunteers are there to provide joy, hope, and unparalleled care throughout the turbulent medical journey.

My objective is to raise $7,500 and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

Please join me in supporting this important organization by contributing to my runner page.

On behalf of the children and the families of Chai Lifeline, thank you for your support!! 😊

Coby