Avi Ganon, World ORT Director General and CEO, will run the London Marathon in April to raise funds for sports facilities at a youth village in Israel.
He will lead a team of ORT UK runners around the 26.2 mile course with a target of £30,000 needed to fund renovations at the Kfar Silver Youth Village at Ashkelon.
Avi Ganon said: “I enjoy running and I’ve taken part in marathons before, but knowing that this one is supporting our students will spur me on. Every penny we raise will help Kfar Silver’s 700 children – and that is all the inspiration I need.
Avi Ganon is an accomplished runner
“We are renovating all the youth village’s facilities and providing courses and services to meet the students’ needs. We want to give them the tools to succeed in life, and the sports program, alongside academic education, helps to do that.
“However hard those 42km are on the streets of London, I know they will be worthwhile.”
Why it matters
The aim of the sports project at the village is to give gifted students the chance to follow a sports excellence program alongside their academic studies, with the ultimate goal to produce Israeli Olympians of the future.
The refurbishment will also enable students to use improved Physical Education facilities, and will give the village a profit stream from renting out the 400m track and the indoor facilities, which are able to host a range of sports.
We want your support and donations to help us:
- Build a quality running track, including infrastructure and seating for spectators
- Renovate the gym, including the flooring, air conditioning, scoreboards, seating, weights room, office
- Additional facilities including changing rooms and storage space
- Purchase indoor/outdoor sports equipment
The London Marathon is perhaps the world’s best-known long-distance running event and is marking its 38th year. Massively over-subscribed every year, it is watched by millions of television viewers around the world and is the largest annual charity event outside of the United States.
Runners will pass iconic sites around the British capital, including the Houses of Parliament, Nelson’s Column, the Cutty Sark and ultimately run past Buckingham Palace to the finish line.
The Kfar Silver running track and athletics facilities are in need of major refurbishments
By donating to Team ORT here you can support our runners and help us go some way to hopefully creating Israel’s own marathon runners of the future.
