Ruth Birnbaum, 13 years old from Omer, is dealing with severe epilepsy and cerebral palsy, but this will not stop her from participating again this year in the Jerusalem Marathon this week (Friday) in the 42 km leg together with her father Ramaon.
Ruth is an intern at the southern house of the Beit Ha'Galits association, which helps and is a second home for hundreds of teenagers and adults with physical disabilities, and she will participate in the marathon in order to raise support for the summer camps of the association's southern house in the Gaza Envelope.
Last year, along with Ruth and her father Ramaon, a number of friends and family members ran alongside them in the marathon, who encouraged and supported them.
The only person who heard about Ruth's mission was Captain Sheila (Chico) Cohen, the commander of a team of fighters in the Sheldag unit, who understood the importance of the project for Ruth and the added value for the soldiers, and got involved in the mission for the House of Wheels.
Cohen decided to bring the entire team of fighters under him to run the marathon with Ruth in the middle of the unit's training.
Cohen and 'Team Chico' ran and pushed Ramaon and Ruth along the track.
On October 7th, Captain Cohen left his house, fought terrorists, and was killed in the battles in Kibbutz Bari.
This year the marathon will be dedicated to his memory.
Ruth will participate in the Jerusalem marathon in a wheelchair/official website, Omri Caspi
Ruth will participate in the Jerusalem marathon in a wheelchair/official website, Omri Caspi
Capt. Sheila (Chico) Cohen/IDF spokesperson
At the end of the race, which Ruth will perform in a wheelchair with the support and encouragement of her father and his friends, she will walk the last 100 meters with the help of a walker and prove to all of us that anything is possible.
For 6 years now, Ruth has been participating in the activities in the southern house of the Beit Ha'Galits association, which serves as her second home.
In a message she published on the crowdfunding platform Jgive, Ruth said that "there I meet and spend time with my good friends. And it gives us a lot of joy and happiness, which fills me with positive energy. The highlight is the summer camp of the House of Wheels, which we are already waiting for. For us it is a significant and unforgettable experience You are forgotten."
To Ruth's support recruitment page
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Jerusalem Marathon