“This year’s Dash for Dignity will provide a venue for individuals, families and friends to come together, conveying the strong message that we stand in solidarity with Israel, as we express love and support for our family in Israel to stay strong and to keep going,” said Jessica Katz, co-founder and U.S. director of Yad Leah.
“In addition to our time-honored features at the Dash for Dignity, there will be a special station where everyone can come and write letters or make pictures that will be sent to Israeli families, a veritable display of our achdut imprinted with care and concern,” Katz continued. “For voting adults, the letter writing station will supply materials to send messages to our legislators imploring upon them to stand with and support Israel.”
Katz noted the importance of channeling our personal and communal feelings of sadness into the positive energy of love and support. “Join us at the Dash for Dignity. We will run together, walk together and sing together, connecting with each other and with our families in Israel,” she added.
Yad Leah has been a legendary and long-time provider of gently used clothing to needy families in Israel, supplying essential items to thousands, with 23 outlets in multiple regions of the country. This year, the clothing and other items provided in the Yad Leah “shops” in Israel are more essential than ever. In light of the current tragic and devastating situation, many families have been displaced and are in need of much assistance, including the crucial items that Yad Leah provides.
This year, Yad Leah is adding to their campaign the additional focus of providing necessary items for the IDF soldiers. With the recent national mobilization of IDF forces in an extraordinarily short period of time, the supplies needed for so many exceed the availability of those supplies.
So this year’s Dash is preceded by the added theme, “Keep Them Warm,” a campaign to provide warm winter gear for displaced Israelis and Israeli soldiers.” Last week and this week, through October 26, donors contributed to their efforts.
With the ambitious goal for this year’s event of $100,000, the Dash for Dignity will be held once again at its traditional location of Overpeck Park off of Fort Lee Road on Sunday, November 5, starting at 9 a.m. Participants and their fans are encouraged to dress for the weather as the Dash has several events, some concurrent and some in sequence.
The 5K run is a timed race with numbered bibs, official RFID (radio frequency identification) timing and medals. In other words, for the serious competitors, the Yad Leah Dash for Dignity 5K provides official times that can be used to qualify for other sanctioned races and official records. Winners in each category will be recognized. The one-mile Family Fun Walk is open to all families, whether on foot or in strollers—or both! The Kids Dash is open to kids aged 3-8. Each age category is run separately and everyone is a winner! The Kids Dash includes special group “warm ups” led by a fitness expert prior to the races. So listen up for the announcement of the pre-race warm-ups! Every kid in the Kids Dash receives a special prize!
Other fun features at the Dash for Dignity include a photo booth, a finish-line photo op, an inflatable bouncy house, cotton candy, face painting and a gourmet breakfast.
To join the Dash for Dignity as an individual or as a team, visit their website to register. The 5K run is $50; the Family Fun Walk is $40, the Kids Dash is $15 and the Kids Combo package deal covers the One Mile Family Walk and the Kids Dash for $45.
For information and registration visit www.dash4dignity.org.
