As a marathon runner himself, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat kicked off the Jerusalem Half Marathon today with a special 400 meter circuit for children of the SHALVA Foundation - The Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel. Jerusalem, Israel. 18/03/2010.
Planning an international full marathon in 2011, the Jerusalem Municipality got to practice today at the Jerusalem International Half Marathon in the Givat Ram Hebrew University Stadium. This year's event is dedicated to the children of SHALVA, founded in 1990, to raise donations and awareness to the children's special needs and also to there ability to be integrated into society with dignity and respect. Over a hundred children, most of them suffering from Down Syndrome, took to the track to complete a 400 meter circuit prior to the half marathon itself, as a group of SHALVA musicians cheered their teammates around the track.



































