Jerusalem, Israel—Yachad, the National Council for Jewish Disabilities, announced that former NBA all-star basketball player Amar’e Stoudemire will be leading Yachad’s Jerusalem Marathon team this March. Proceeds will go directly to help those with disabilities attend many of Yachad’s famous Shabbatonim, summer programs and an array of other inclusive activities.

Stoudemire, 34, the six-time all-star listed at 6-10, originally from Florida, played for the New York Knicks from 2010-2015, until he signed with the Miami Heat from 2015-2016. In 2016, he retired from the NBA and signed on with Hapoel Jerusalem, a team he co-owns in the Israeli Basketball Premier League.

He could have played anywhere in the world—but Stoudemire chose Jerusalem.

“I want to live a holy life,” he said. “I consider myself a Hebrew Israelite.” Stoudemire keeps Shabbat and kosher, and is well-versed in Torah verses. He and his wife, Alexis, and four children have built a home in Jerusalem, where they found “spiritual peace,” according to Alexis.

“We are so excited about Amar’e Stoudemire joining us at the Jerusalem Marathon, all geared up in a Team Yachad shirt, headband, arm sleeve and knee socks,” said Dr. Jeff Lichtman, International Director of Yachad. “Amar’e is an inspiration to so many young people, and we hope they follow his lead and join Team Yachad.”

The Jerusalem Marathon, combining physical endurance through Jerusalem’s hills with exquisite landscapes, takes runners on an unforgettable tour through Jerusalem’s greatest sites. “Each year, participants run through the very streets where kings and prophets walked, against the backdrop of Jerusalem’s cultural and historical landscapes,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat. “It is a unique and breathtaking experience.”

Watch the full trailer about Amar’e in Team Yachad here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odM9veu1dOA. To learn more about Stoudemire’s incredible story: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=17781588&ex_cid=espnapi_public