Michael Szirt

This March I will be running as part of Team Shalva in the Jerusalem Half-Marathon.

I ran this 21K half-marathon in 2019 and it was extremely difficult, essentially non-stop hills. I can therefore understand why the Jerusalem Half-Marathon has been dubbed one of the hardest in the world. You may ask why I am doing it again…

The reason is Shalva, an organization that has been providing transformative care to individuals with disabilities and their family members in a warm and loving environment for over 30 years.

I visited their facility in 2019, and as someone who used to own therapy clinics for children, I can say that I have never seen a world-class center like this that treats kids with special needs with so much love and spirit. From infancy through adulthood, this amazing organization provides leading-edge therapies, inclusive educational frameworks, social and recreational activities, employment training, independent living, respite programs regardless of religion, ethnic background or financial capability.

Shalva is an incredible place and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I am doing my part to support this amazing organization by running, and I need your help.

I am happy to run outdoors in the snow and freezing cold of Montreal winter in order to train for this half marathon if you'll help me by donating to this worthy cause. All donations made online in Canadian dollars will receive an automatic tax receipt from Canadian Friends of Shalva (US dollar donations will receive a US tax receipt). Thank you in advance for your help and generosity.