A group of ten year 7 and 8 children completed the second annual Jewish Care’s 10K B’nei Mitzvah Walk on Sunday raising almost £3000 to help support older people in our community. Participants included students from JFS, JCoSS and Fortismere School and the route began and ended at Jewish Care resources with a stop on the way to visit residents at Clore Manor Home in Hendon.

The group met and fuelled up with sandwiches at the Jewish Care’s Michael Sobell Jewish Community Centre in Golders Green before taking the scenic route to visit residents at the organisation’s Clore Manor home in Hendon. At Clore Manor home, the group met residents including Nettie Rolnick, who gave them words of encouragement to help them on their way:
“Well done to all of you, it’s marvellous what you are doing and it was lovely to see you all today. I wish you the best of luck on the rest of the walk.”

From Hendon the group continued walking to The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre in Friern Barnet where they were awarded certificates and were greeted by their families at the finish. One participant, Jacob Hirshler, a JCoSS pupil went to visit his great-grandpa Lou 95, who is a resident at Rosetree’s home in The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, to proudly show him his certificate. Jacob’s whole family were there to meet and congratulate him at the end of the walk including his grandma, Phylis, who is a member of Jewish Care’s Southgate branch.
Jacob said, “Jewish Care looks after my Papa, who has dementia, and is a charity that is important to me. I am aiming to raise as much money as possible to buy new equipment for Papa’s care home Rosetrees. I want to thank everyone for their support.”

After the walk, Jacob’s mum, Natasha Hirshler said, “Papa and all the family are so proud of Jacob for completing his 10k. Thank you to everyone who sponsored him.”

Another participant, 13 year old Amos Shamai, Year 7 Fortismere student who celebrated his Barmitzvah in April said, “It was fun and challenging and I really enjoyed chatting along the way to friends. It was the first time I’ve been to a home and it was really nice meeting Nettie.”

Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising and Marketing, Daniel Carmel-Brown said, “We’d like to say a big thank you and well done to all of the participants who raised almost £3000 by walking 10k for Jewish Care this weekend. This was a great opportunity for them to meet residents and learn a little more about the work of Jewish Care and by giving their time to fundraise and take part it’s great to see they are demonstrating their responsibility to the community at this important time in their lives.”