On October 28, 2010,
the first Susan G. Komen Israel Race for the Cure
in Israel was held in Jerusalem.
White tents and pink balloons filled Gan Sacher, Sacher Park.
White t-shirts were given out at registration,
with about 200 special pink ones going to breast cancer survivors.
Participants came from all over Israel and from all around the world,
men and women participated,
children
and little babies.
In spite of the blazing sun, at least 5,000 people were in the park at noon.
Remax was one sponsor and had a special tent, and the only red, white and blue.
Na’amat was one of 15 organizations that partnered in the race;
their members made an impressive entrance,
walking together as a large group under white umbrellas.
Leaving the park, walkers grabbed bottles of water which were appreciated in the heat.
The 3.5 kilometer walk/run began under a pink and white balloons on Bezalel Street.
Buses blocked the traffic, and even they looked pink.
The Hadassah group began walking as pink and white balloons filled the skies.
VIP leaders including, Hadassah President Nancy Falchuk,
Nancy G Brinker, sister of Susan G Komen,
and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat and his wife Beverly led the way.
Hadassah Lieberman and Senator Joseph Lieberman seemed to enjoy the day.
The march turned at the corner of King George Street, towards the Old City.
King George Street was not closed to traffic, but traffic backed up anyway,
while the marchers had to walk in the sun on the sidewalk.
The route went along the sidewalk across from the walls of the Old City
and ended at the finish line which was near the Sultan’s Pool.
Groups of participants rested in the shade,
socializing,
listening to the music and speeches,
and just enjoying the amazing day. While pink was the color of the day,
not everyone wore pink and white.
Shaare Zedek Hospital opted for black t-shirts.
Also, wearing black t-shirts was Jennifer’s Team.
Jennifer Griffin of Fox News and a breast cancer survivor,
came with a whole camera crew to record the event.
Similar fundraising events have been held throughout the US and in 11 other countries,
but only in Jerusalem… a box to put notes in the Kotel, the Western Wall.
Many people walked with a pink note pinned to the back of a shirt
with names of friends or family members
who have breast cancer or who have died from the disease.
Even though this kind of fund-raising is new to Israel,
million of dollars were pledged to cancer research to find a cure.
But October 29, 2010…
RivkA bat Tirzel z”l ran out of time waiting for that cure.