Volunteers for The Friendship Circle and Camp Simcha raised over £23,000 fundraising in The Great Manchester Run.
Volunteers from The Friendship Circle and Camp Simcha were found on the start line of the Great Manchester Run this year fundraising for its respective charities.
Six of Camp Simcha’s eager volunteer’s recently ran in the Great Manchester Run raising almost £6,000 for the charity’s work supporting families with seriously ill children. Hadassah Weill ran the half marathon, while Jonny Finlay, Rikki Lieberman, Tirtzah Sprinzeles, Nechama Stern and Rochelle Stern ran the 10K which loops throughout Manchester, beginning on Portland Road and ending on Great Bridgewater Street.
Speaking afterwards Hadassah said: “I really enjoyed the run; it was hard but worth it. Such a great experience and I would definitely do it again.”
Tirtzah Sprinzeles said she was excited to be doing the run for such an awesome charity, commenting: “I have been a volunteer myself so have personally seen the work Camp Simcha does. I have always wanted to do a run for charity, so this was my perfect chance; I am hoping to do the half next year.”
Camp Simcha’s Manchester Community Relationships Manager, Michal Black, said: “We are so grateful to all our runners for choosing Camp Simcha. They have raised a fantastic amount and were so enthusiastic. The atmosphere was brilliant on the day and there was a fantastic feel of community support for all the runners.”
55 people between the ages of five and 60 ran on behalf of The Friendship Circle. The group raised a staggering total of £17,358 with teams from Stenecourt Chesed Club and Quooker UK, led by Friendship Circle Patron Stephen Johnson taking part and fundraising for the charity.
It was an especially inspiring day for seven Friendship Circle members who, despite their physical and learning disabilities, took on this awesome challenge. Among them was Hannah Levy, who completed the 10K with her mum Alayne pushing her wheelchair. Cheered on by a tumultuous crowd, Hannah crossed over the finish line on foot, beaming from ear to ear, showing her true determination and resilience.
The race wasn’t just a personal accomplishment for Hannah, it was also a triumph for Alayne who commented: “Thanks to my daughter Hannah for encouraging me to enter my first ever 10K run. Pushing her wheelchair was such a privilege and we raised badly needed funds for The Friendship Circle, an amazing charity supporting Hannah and her friends.”
Other members who joined Hannah in the 10K were Faigie Josephs, Shoshi & Ed Sholem, Hannah Mendell, Leah Lopian, and Neil Reisman, who ran the entire 10K carrying a four-kilogram weight to challenge himself even further! Esty Bruck and Rabbi Daniel Walker, together with volunteers Steven Maskill, Tova Issler and Karen Hasid ran alongside them.