On the weekend of May 21st-22nd, and for the 2nd year in a row, the Cleveland Chapter of PCRF participated in the featured races of the Cleveland Marathon as an official charity partner. Team Palestine for PCRF, the sporting arm of our chaotes, helped raise funds for the establishment of a sensory room for neurodivergent children in Al-Askar Refugee camp in the West Bank. Their team of 62 runners was loud and proud, crossing the finish line of the 5K and 10K on Saturday despite the pouring rain, and running the half marathon and marathon on Sunday! Our team's grit was a family affair on full display, with Aleesa Zeidan (7 years old!) finishing the 5K shortly before her sister Sofia (9 years old!) ran the 10K; Yousef Saadeh finished the marathon in 3:28 while his brother Subhi ran the half in 2:23; and not to be outdone, the Jadallah family ran the half marathon together. Dr. Ahmad Jadallah (1:53) crossed the finish line proudly waving the Palestinian flag shortly after his daughters Mira (1:47, 5th in her age group), Layali (1:46) and Sarah (1:30, for 3rd in her age group).
We thank our PCRF-Cleveland Chapter for organizing this opportunity for community members and supports to participating in the Marathon as TP4PCRF and raising funds for an important project which was made possible by all the supporters, volunteers, and spectators who lined the streets of Cleveland cheering the team on, and to all the sponsors and donors who helped them reach their fundraising goal.