Five Towner runs for Team Yachad in Miami

J.J. Goldstein is running again.

The enthusiastic 17-year old student at KULANU at HAFTR has rallied his family and other supporters to help raise, to date, $7828 for his second run with Team Yachad this Sunday in the ING Miami half marathon.

In his first run last year, he managed to raise $17,000. “I’m really happy,” said J.J. “I’m really excited. I’m happy to raise money—I like Yachad.”

“He looks forward to the Shabbaton,” said J.J.’s mother Brenda, “specifically the advisors.”

The family will be at a hotel in Miami for Shabbat, said J.J.’s father, Dr. Stanley Goldstein. “It’s a big ruach Shabbat, with motivational speakers,” encouraging the participants to “get out there and give all you’ve got.”

J.J. runs in this race, said his brother-in-law, Judah Gomberg, who will be running with J.J., because Yachad is “an organization that has done a lot for J.J. and the entire family. We appreciate the great opportunity to help raise money for the organization and, at the same time, it’s a fun activity. Overall, the experience is a good one. It means a lot to him, that’s why he puts so much effort into it.” Dr. Goldstein will be running in the half marathon as well. He noted that it’s a great atmosphere and “if kids with disabilities can go out there and run, it is our obligation and with no disabilities to go out there and support them.” Mrs. Goldstein will be cheering them on.

“The whole family is behind him,” said Dr. Goldstein about J.J. “It just shows that when you put something into a child with special needs, you get a lot of nachas out of it and you are helping the community at large.”