Lawrence family runs for charitable causes

The Mandels combine their passions while helping those in need

Posted

Aaron Mandel and his mother Yael, combined their passion for running, helping others and Israel by competing in a half marathon that was part of the Jerusalem Marathon in Israel’s capital city on March 13.
“It was the most outstanding, spectacular, awe-inspiring run I’ve ever done,” said Yael, who along with Aaron ran to support Shalva, an organization that provides a variety of services for physically and mentally disabled individuals in Israel. “It was physically and spiritually invigorating,” she said about the half marathon.
Mandel’s daughter, Shelby, 18, who is studying in Israel for the year, ran in the 10K (6.2 miles) race for Darkeynu, a program which gives individuals with special needs the opportunity to study in Israel for a year. The Mandel family lives in Lawrence.
Shalva requires runners from outside Israel to commit to raising at least $3,600. They will receive financial assistance for airfare and hotel accommodations from Shalva’s corporate sponsors. Participants that waive the airfare/hotel support need to raise a minimum of $3,000. Shelby raised $3,600 for Darkeynu.
For Aaron, a freshman at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaways (HAFTR) High School, the run was a follow-up to the 5K (3.1 milies) race he organized in honor of his bar mitzvah nearly two years ago, which raised more than $30,000 for the Shirat Devorah ALS Foundation.

“I raised a lot of money for Shirat Devorah and helped them out,” Aaron said. “The previous run was a great success, and I wanted to follow up and it went really well,” he said of his run in the Jerusalem Marathon.
The proceeds from the 5K run went to outfit a wheelchair-accessible bathroom for Woodmere resident Deborah Schochet, who suffers from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Aaron and Yael met the group who was running on behalf of Shirat Devorah and completed the marathon with them.
“It really came full circle,” said Yael, who described the euphoria they felt after meeting up with the group. “It’s gratifying to be able to give back to others. I’ve gained way more from my friendship with Deborah than I’ve ever given to her. I’ve learned so much about her and how much she’s accomplished. She’s just awe-inspiring.”
To prepare for the half marathon (13.1 miles), Aaron trained vigorously on Fridays and Sundays to prepare for the Jerusalem half marathon, which is mostly uphill. His training paid off, as he took fourth place in the age group for 16-18 year old men, as there was no younger age group. “My mom got me into running,” said Aaron, who finished the half marathon in 1:47:10.
Yael finished the half marathon in 2:18:06. “It was such a privilege just to run and be there,” she said. “It was the most memorable run of my life to run through the city of Jerusalem,” said Yael, who described the sight of the historic walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, through which the path of the marathon intersected.
Aaron was self-motivated to run the race and raise funds for Shalva, according to his father. “I’m really proud of him,” said Gary Mandel, who described his son as smart, kind and an “amazing athlete and incredible runner.”
A member of HAFTR’s junior varsity hockey team, Aaron said he enjoys combining his passions in athletics and charitable work. “I really like to help people who aren’t as fortunate,” he said.