An estimated half-million American Jews are expected to join together in over 130 communities coast to coast and in Israel on May 15 for the first United Jewish Appeal National Walk-A-Thon. According to Irwin S. Field of Los Angeles, national Walk-A-Thon chairman, “The project will be the biggest, most colorful mobilization of the American Jewish community in history.”
The impact of this program has already been demonstrated in 15 communities where a total of 50,000 individuals held pre-May 15 events. In Los Angeles alone, 25,000 participated; San Francisco witnessed 10,000 strong hold largest Jewish gathering in that city’s history.
In addition to traditional Walk-A-Thon programs–with themes ranging from the 10th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification (with checkpoints representing cities in Israel) to Jewish solidarity (the route is in the shape of a Star of David) there will be a roller skate-a-thon in El Paso, dance marathon in Savannah, jog-a-thon in Atlantic City, bike-a-thon in Altoona and swim-a-thon in Orlando.
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