On Sunday, October 11, the Chicago Marathon took place, one of the world's major running events. Among the thousands of participants was a unique Israeli delegation of 57 runners, all members of bereaved families and victims of terror, who came as part of an initiative by the One Family organization.
The delegation included parents who had lost children, bereaved siblings, widows and widowers. For them, participating in the marathon was far more than an athletic challenge. It was an opportunity to memorialize their loved ones, to confront their loss, and to find strength to move forward.
From October 7 Memorials to the Chicago Starting Line
The timing of the trip made the journey especially meaningful. Some delegation members boarded the plane on October 7, just hours after attending memorial services for their loved ones.
After a long period of training together, they arrived in Chicago to stand together at the starting line, each carrying a personal story of loss and longing.
But the road to the marathon did not begin in Chicago. For months, delegation members trained in Israel, and during their preparation they also participated in runs held at locations of special significance to them.
One was the "Chai Run," an 18-kilometer route in Yerushalayim that passed through Har Herzl and near the Sbarro restaurant, where the terror attack occurred that led to the founding of the One Family organization more than two decades ago.
Another run took place in Re'im Forest, near the site where the Nova festival was held. For the participants, these runs were not only part of their physical preparation, but also an opportunity to be together, to share, and to process their memories.
