Lubavs Run NYC Marathon

For runners nationwide the yearly ING NYC Marathon is the ultimate accomplishment. 26.2 grueling miles, across five boroughs, the race attracts 45,000 runners from across the globe, with an estimated 2 million people coming out to cheer them on.

This Sunday, Crown Heights was represented at the Marathon with 10 racers running in support of the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights, a volunteer based organization dedicated to providing support to their medically distressed in the Crown Heights Community. Together, the runners raised over $26,000 for Bikur Cholim.

Among the runners Paul Hamburger, Shloimy Herz, Adam Kramer, Shmuly Lang, Yitzchak Liberman, Malka Perelman, Esther Riesenberg, Zev Wineberg, and Chani Witkes, coached by Chaim Backman of Tri Chai – a triathlon club geared for the Frum community.

Bikur Cholim set up a cheering section at Mile 10, on Bedford and Myrtle Avenues complete with personalized T-shirts, signs, balloons, and of course, lots of Kosher Gatorade to give out to the passing runners all generously sponsored by Pushkart.com.

“It’s so amazing to see so many people come together with one goal,” said Leigh Hershkovich, who came to support the BC Team, “and of course to watch the whole city show up to lend their support is really inspiring.”

For the BC Team, running for their community gave them the extra push they needed to make it to the finish line. “It was an once in a lifetime experience,” said runner Esther Riesenberg, “I couldn’t have done it without the support I got from everyone at Bikur Cholim, knowing that they were there cheering for me, kept me going until the very end.”

Another runner, Malka Perelman said: “I kept telling myself that raising the money was the hard part, and now I just have to run, I already did the work for this amazing organization. When I finished, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was in so much pain, but all I could do was smile.

“We are extremely proud of all of the runners of the BC Team, and so grateful for a their support,” said Esther Blau, a member of the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka advisory board, “And watching our team pushing themselves their physical limits, gives us, and should give everyone in our community, the Chizuk to go beyond our own limits and accomplish more than ever.”

For more information on the Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Bikur Cholim of Crown Heights visit www.bikurcholimch.org