Heschel West jog-athon called success

On April 29 from 9:30 until 11 a.m., the children at Heschel West Day School in Agoura had an important reason to keep on running.

The transitional kindergarten through fifth-graders had made a commitment to help those in need by participating in the annual jog-athon in celebration of Israel's 61st Independence Day, Yom Ha'Atzmaut.

The jog-athon has raised more than $100,000 for Israeli charities throughout the years and gives children the opportunity to develop strong values and understand the importance of giving to those in need.

This year the benefiting charities are The Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, the first sports center in the country which involves disabled children and adults in sports activities, and the Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross.

The money is raised through pledges for donations that the children gather from friends and family based on the number of laps they run during the jogathon.

Parents, grandparents and other family members also participated by organizing the event, passing out water to the children and cheering on the young runners.

Heschel West Day School is at 27400 Canwood Street in Agoura. It is a national Blue Ribbon community Jewish school that teaches the whole student with an integrated general and Judaic education that stresses intellectual, spiritual and creative development.