Running for Sderot

So I decided to add a component to my Half Marathon, to have an impact on someone other than myself.

I am now running for Sderot.

For those who don't know, Sderot is a town not far from Gaza, *inside the Green Line.* I repeat - the town is in non-usually-disputed (other than by staunch Arabs who don't believe Israel should exist at all) territory.

Over the course of the last week alone, hundreds of rockets have been launched at Sderot. Hundreds.

The only defense the town has is its "Color Red" signal that goes off approximately 15 seconds before the rocket is due to land.

Fifteen seconds. If you're holding your breath for 15 seconds, it seems like maybe a decent amount of time. When you're running for your life to find the closest shelter, it's the blink of an eye.

Many people have left Sderot, because they couldn't take the pressure anymore. When one of the rockets goes off, it is a painfully loud sound. Think about it happen more than 50 times in one day.

The ones who stay are absolute heroes. Some of them don't have anywhere else to go. Others have made the decision to stay, so as not to let the terrorists win. Whatever their reasons for staying - they should not have to live the way they're living.

Here are a couple of videos on youtube:

The first is what it sounds like when the siren goes off, and how people have to run:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRz3nHwgjHY&NR=1

The second is about what it's like to live in that war zone day after day, year after year. There are English subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCHbihJImGo&feature=related

My primary goal is to raise awareness of the situation these people are living in... but my secondary goal is to actually help them by raising money.

If you want to donate, you can go to:

http://runforsderot.connectionsisrael.com/Maureen.htm


Btw, I did 10k today on the dreadmill, but I made a longer part of the distance my cool down. No puking -- that is a Good Thing :)