Israel’s capital city was bathed in brilliant sunshine on April 4, but it was the “ADI Fleet” inclusive running team that shined the brightest at the 14th annual International Jerusalem Winner Marathon. At a time when the reality of disability looms large throughout Israel, ADI’s team of passionate runners of all levels of ability took to the streets to promote the advancement of the most vulnerable members of Israeli society, highlight the importance of disability inclusion and heal war-wounded heroes from the country’s hardest-hit communities.
Sporting the team’s iconic green running shirts, ADI staff members, volunteers and supporters from across Israel and around the world tore up the 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon tracks, while more than three dozen ADI residents—young women and men who were never expected to walk—pounded the pavement at the 800-meter “Communities Track,” pushing their limits in specially-made walkers to demonstrate once again that disability doesn’t mean inability.
“Running the Jerusalem half-marathon with ADI Fleet was about so much more than trying to win a race. It was an opportunity to help provide state-of-the-art rehabilitation for those living with and touched by disability and supporting true inclusion,” said Jordy Saltzman, a 22-year-old resident of Hashmonaim, who made aliyah from Chicago with his family 19 years ago. “With every stride, I was so proud to be a part of the ADI family.”
Echoing that sentiment, Nadia Levene, Keren Grant and Linda Bezalely, a trio of London expats living in Jerusalem, called the organization a perfect ideological fit for their Jerusalem Marathon campaign owing to its rehabilitative expertise and compassion-powered inclusive mission.
“We are particularly passionate about creating an inclusive society, enhancing the rehabilitation of the bodies and souls of children and adults with disabilities, and empowering our war heroes at this difficult time in our history. Keren is a speech therapist by profession and alerted us to the fact that ADI checks all of these boxes, and we were immediately excited to highlight their vital work,” explained Levene.
“Apparently, our family and friends were inspired as well, because we easily reached and surpassed our campaign goal, raising 10,000 NIS for our 10K in just a week. After a sunny, emotional and thoroughly enjoyable 10K, we passed the finish line to discover that we had reached 22,000 NIS, more than doubling our target! This made our perfect Jerusalem Marathon experience even more special, and we can’t wait to tackle the half-marathon next year to benefit ADI.”
By race day, ADI’s fleet-footed international ambassadors raised tens of thousands of dollars to provide much-needed post-trauma treatments for the most vulnerable members of Israeli society and heal the Negev’s war-wounded Israel Defense Force soldiers and civilians.
Longtime ADI super fan Debbie Ballew, a native of Bronx, N.Y., now living in Gush Etzion, described running with ADI Fleet as an “honor.”
“My daughter Mindy and I are humbled to be able to run with ADI Fleet year after year. ADI allows us to truly connect with our humanity by supporting the purest and holiest souls,” said Ballew, who made aliyah from Memphis in 2014. “ADI is truly a family and a shining example of living an elevated life focused on love and empowerment. We pray that we will have the strength to run with ADI Fleet for years to come!”
By reimagining rehabilitation, ADI is advancing ability for all—empowering children, adolescents and adults with severe disabilities and pioneering cutting-edge therapeutic and recovery services for anyone touched by disability. ADI provides its residents and special education students with the individualized growth plans and specialized services they need to grow and thrive, its rehabilitation patients with the treatments and therapies they need to heal and return to their lives, and the community at large with tangible opportunities for encountering disability, raising awareness and promoting acceptance.