Crossing The Finish Line

To my OneFamily Friends and Family,

There are no words to describe the accomplishment of crossing the finish line of the ING NYC Marathon. If I had not been injured in Operation Cast Lead, had not needed to learn how to talk and walk again, if I had not survived a severe brain injury and 500 pieces of shrapnel to my body… if I had not gone to fight terrorists the day after my wedding – completing the marathon in 4 hours and 14 minutes would have been noteworthy and impressive.

Even though I thought I could do it, the knowledge and understanding that each of you were with me, pushed me towards the end. I have been on a very difficult journey over the past five years – I learned that between recognizing the miracles from G-d and relying on the support of family and friends, every journey is worth taking.

I did it! I really did it! 26.2 miles in the bitter cold and wind and I crossed that finish line and even successfully beat the time that I had hoped for. I cannot thank you all enough for the incredible support and encouragement I felt along the way and throughout my visit in New York.

I do not see that I had a choice not to be resilient, not to rehabilitate, not to restart my life with my beautiful wife Tzvia and our two children. It felt exhilarating to choose to run the marathon, set a goal worth achieving, and accomplishing that goal through tremendous effort.

I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Yizchaka Jackson for inspiring me to run and take an active role in my future. Without her daily encouragement, motivation, and guidance, the marathon would only have been a distant dream.

But neither of these journeys – or marathons – would have been accomplished without OneFamily. My goal was so much more than just crossing that finish line, rather to raise awareness and funds for OneFamily.

OneFamily is the incredible organization that was with my family since the day I was injured – in the hospital, in our home, with us in the Raanana center, with therapies and support groups, a listening ear and hugs of encouragement.

We could not have been here today without OneFamily.

Together, you have sponsored me for almost $50,000 and I hope you will join me in surpassing my goal and raise $60,000 in support of OneFamily and Israel’s victims of terror.

Please visit my page and make a tax deductible donation, www.teamonefamily.org/aharonkarov. Running the marathon took me to the end of my limits, but the knowledge that every drop of sweat and every aching muscle would help others who were injured with their long journey of recovery gave me strength to continue and continues to empower me.

With deep admiration and appreciation.

Thank you,
Aharon