Communal charities enjoyed a six-figure boost from supporters taking part in Sunday’s London Marathon.
Among Norwood’s two dozen participants, who raised a combined £65,000, was Heather O’Connell, who travelled from America for the race.
The keen marathon runner has learning disabilities and says that running has hugely improved her quality of life. She had decided to support Norwood because “it doesn’t just consider the individual’s needs but the impact that a disability can have on the whole family - emotionally, socially and financially”.
She finished in just over four hours, raising well over £4,000.
Marathon veteran Jonny Phillips led home the team from Camp Simcha, supporting families with seriously ill children, clocking 3 hours 25 minutes.
“London needed that; we all needed that,” he said afterwards. “With no London Marathon in 2020 for the regular runners due to Covid, it was such an amazing and powerful moment at the start line, together with runners from all over the world. You could just feel the excitement.
“I’m fortunate to have run a few international marathons but London is definitely the best. To be running it for the eighth time for such an amazing charity adds purpose to the fun.”
He had been spurred on by shouts of encouragement from Camp Simcha personnel along the route.
British Emunah supporter Sarah Tarzi finished in 4:30, having run to honour the memory of her mother, who passed away last year and wanted to leave a charitable legacy.
“I'm three years older than the last time I did it and it felt correspondingly harder,” she acknowledged. “But it's an absolute privilege to take part and amazing to be able to contribute to Emunah.
“British Emunah relies solely on donations to support its projects in Israel, where it offers residential and day centres to families and children who are struggling, vulnerable and/or deemed 'at risk'.
“It’s a charity that always meant a lot to our family and it made this run even more special to honour my mum in this way.”
Running his first marathon, one of the Jewish Care team, Jake Norton (3:35) said it had been “a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. But the atmosphere was unbelievable.
“Knowing that I was supporting a great cause and how many people had donated kept me going after the first half when it got really tough and my headphones powered off.
“I’m so pleased to have raised funds for the Jewish Care. Everything about the organisation brings happiness and light to our community and the last year has really showed us why Jewish Care is so vital. They have managed to help so many not only survive but thrive even when up against the most difficult of challenges.”
