Last Friday, something very special happened. In a car park near Ra'anana Park, early in the morning, a group of loyal volunteers gathered and started preparing tables, directions, sound systems, refreshments and even porta loos. As more and more people – young and old, families and groups of friends, kids and even some dogs - gathered in the car park, the excitement started mounting. The fifth annual Walkathon in aid of Ha’Bayit shel Benji - Benji’s home for lone soldiers - was about to start!
For five years an annual walkathon has been held in order to raise the $3.5million needed to build a center in Ra'anana that will assist lone soldiers or soldiers from deprived backgrounds. A “lone soldier” is normally someone who has come to Israel to serve in the army, but who has no family here to assist him. During their weekend leave and time off from the army, these soldiers must seek out places to stay, figure out a way to do their laundry, grab an inexpensive meal, or take care of personal errands instead of catching up on precious sleep and receiving a little well-deserved care and attention.
The house is being built in memory of Major Benji Hillman z”l, who was killed during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, just three weeks after his wedding. His caring nature and unstinting sense of responsibility toward the soldiers under his command will live on at HaBayit Shel Benji.
Back at the car park, walkers were given a lively warm up by professional trainers from the Great Shape gym and then they were off on either the 3, 6 or 10 kilometer rural route. Each walker had paid or raised sponsorship money for the walk. Over the last five years, the money raised by the walk has topped one million shekels.
If you wish to join us for our next walk, make a donation or just get to know more about the foundation, you are welcome to visit the site www.benjihillman.org
