A team of dedicated New Zealand runners competing in one of the world’s most scenically glorious marathons will also be doing their bit to support a new medical initiative serving Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The Jerusalem Marathon, a much-anticipated annual event in the eternal city will (for the first time) include a New Zealand team when it is next held on March 21, 2014.

The event caters for runners of all levels. Runners can sign up for the full marathon (42km), the half marathon (21km), a 10km race and the 4.2km public race. But runners in Team New Zealand will not just be part of a big run. The team is also looking to raise funds and awareness for Hadassah Hospital’s Project Rozana, an Australian initiative which has been adopted by Hadassah New Zealand. The idea of the drive is to bring together people of different faiths and cultures together to raise funds which will make a real difference to hundreds of Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, by providing treatment and doctor-training at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Hospital.

The project is named after Rozana Ghannam, a four-year old Palestinian girl who was successfully treated in 2012 at Hadassah Hospital after falling from a ninth floor balcony at her home in Ramallah. To register and be part of this wonderful event, please click here. For people who would like to make a donation, please post your cheque to The Secretary Hadassah International NZ Inc, PO Box 87349 Meadowbank or direct debit to bank a/c number 010258 01499 00 – Reference: Your Surname click here. Hadassah New Zealand is a charitable trust and is registered with the New Zealand Charities Commission, number CC 33159.

For more information, please contact team-leader of Project Rozana, Patricia Deen, on 021 2495554 or by email on Patriciainnz@hotmail.com

See http://www.jwire.com.au/news/kiwis-run-for-hadassah/37999