Hello everyone and thank you for visiting my fundraising page!

I'm going to be running the first marathon of my life on March 1st in the Gaza Strip. I know, it sounds like a crazy idea, and admittedly I entered the race rather impulsively, but it's for a very good cause. Plus, the Gaza Strip is 42km long, exactly the length of an Olympic marathon, so I'll be running from one end of the Strip to the other. Pretty cool, no?

The marathon is being organized to bring awareness and raise funds for the Summer Games, an annual event that brings a recreational sports program to 250,000 children in the Gaza Strip. The kids compete in regular Olympic-style games but also participate in arts and drama programs. It's being organized by UNRWA and you can learn more about the program here: http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=1014.

I haven't been to Gaza in about eight years and I'm very excited that this opportunity is bringing me back. Life for children in Gaza is not great, to put it mildly, and programs like the Summer Games provide a unique environment for the kids to learn about cooperation, self-expression, sportsmanship, respect for themselves and others, and to have fun!

Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Please donate -- any amount will help -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too.

Thank you very much for your support!

Jonathan