The Jewish Link of New Jersey and Gotham Burger would like to recognize 15-year-old Rivki Hook as Sportstar of the Week. Rivki has been an active athlete all her life playing softball, basketball, swim, and soccer. When her grandfather and role model Moish Koenig (a”h) passed away last March, she decided to take on a new sport to honor his memory. Rivki told JLNJ, since “my grandfather always made everyone he met smile, I decided to raise money and run a half marathon for Chai Lifeline, so children with chronic illnesses could have a chance to smile at Camp Simcha.” Rivki trained for five hard months and raised money to join Team Lifeline and run 13.1 miles in Miami.

Rivki, what is your favorite pregame meal?

Pizza or cereal.

What is your favorite sports memory?

Crossing the finish line at the Miami Half Marathon.

Where can we find you when not playing sports?

Hanging out with friends, drawing or writing.

When Hook returned to New Jersey, Rivki reflected, “There’s no feeling quite like the one you get when you cross the finish line. It’s a feeling of pride, hard work, and accomplishment. At that moment I knew my grandfather was cheering for me, along with the campers at Camp Simcha. Running the Half Marathon was an amazing experience for me and I’m so glad I did. It was the perfect way to honor my grandfather, help children smile, and prove to myself that anything is possible with hard work and determination.”

The Gotham Burger Sportstar of the Week will receive a $10 gift certificate to Gotham Burger. Please send nominees for next week’s Gotham Burger Sportstar of the Week to [email protected]