The 4th Annual Benjie Hillman Community Walkathon will be held this Friday, 30.4.10, leaving from the parking lot of the Amphitheater at 8:45, along three routes through Raanana fields:  the 3K, 6K and 10K.  The registration and warm-up run by Great Shape will begin at 8:00.

Mayor Nahum Hofree will greet the walkers before they begin the walkathon and will speak to the crowd along with a representative of the family and the IDF.

Participation fee is NIS 100 for adults and NIS 50 for students, soldiers and children up to 16 years of age.  All proceeds go to the construction of HaBayit Shel Benji – a home for lone IDF soldiers to be built in Raanana in memory of the Late Benji Hillman.

To date the foundation has raised $2.5 million, in Israel and abroad of the $3 million needed to complete the project.

Major Benji Hillman, a company commander in the IDF's elite Egoz division, grew up in Raanana and was killed in action on July 20, 2006, at the beginning of the Second Lebanon War.  26 year old Major Hillman was killed just three weeks after his wedding.
 
After his death, his family members established a foundation in his name in order to help lone soldiers, by establishing a center – HaBayit Shel Benji - in Raanana.  The center will provide lodgings for 50 lone soldiers, offering hot meals, laundry service, library, computers (to keep in contact with family abroad), leisure activities, educational and employment assistance following their army service to every lone combat soldier – with TLC.

Last November, the cornerstone was laid for the project, which is in its final planning stages.  AS part of the project, the Raanana Youth Center will also be built, and will act as a center for young people after their discharge from the IDF and will focus on many fields of interest, including:  educational guidance, professional guidance, entrepreneurship, volunteering and contribution to the community, meetings and leisure and cultural events.

For further information and registration:  rurka@zahav.net.il
David:  052-6608655.