Israeli Athletes Overcome Adversity, Communities Rebuild After October 7th
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Hen Chen, an Israeli who lost a leg during military service, won the European Wakeboarding Championship for athletes with disabilities. Meanwhile, soldiers who received children's surprise bags on October 7th returned to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom to give similar gifts. Additionally, Kibbutz Be'eri is hosting the "Hope Race" on October 16th, a large-scale running event designed to foster remembrance and renewal in the region.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Hen Chen, who lost a leg during military service, won the European Wakeboarding Championship for athletes with disabilities.
- Soldiers returned to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom to give surprise bags to children, reciprocating a gesture from October 7th.
- Kibbutz Be'eri will host the "Hope Race" on October 16th, expecting 1,500-2,000 participants.
- The "Hope Race" aims to bring people back to the fields around Be'eri and foster remembrance and renewal.
- The race will include routes through various significant locations in the Gaza envelope region.
Hen Chen, who lost a leg in a hit-and-run incident during his military service, has been crowned European Champion in wakeboarding for athletes with disabilities. After a lengthy rehabilitation period following the severe injury, Chen dedicated himself to returning to surfing, a sport he loved. His journey involved rebuilding confidence and athletic ability, culminating in a bronze medal at the World Championships in China two months prior and his recent European title in Belgium.
Separately, soldiers from Company B of the 630th Battalion, Southern Brigade, returned to Kibbutz Kerem Shalom for their sixth reserve duty rotation. During the initial days after the October 7th attack, when food supplies were scarce, these soldiers found surprise bags prepared for children in the kibbutz synagogue. These bags provided a small comfort during a period of uncertainty. Three years later, remembering this gesture, the soldiers purchased and delivered boxes of surprise bags to the children of Kerem Shalom as a thank you.
In another initiative, Kibbutz Be'eri is organizing the "Hope Race" on October 16th, an event expected to draw 1,500 to 2,000 participants. The race aims to bring people back to the fields surrounding the kibbutz, which were impacted by the October 7th attacks. Conceived before the war by Aya Medan, a Be'eri member and triathlete, the race has taken on new meaning as a way to reconnect with the landscape, honor memory, and foster renewal. Participants will traverse routes through Be'eri, the Iron Swords Forest, the Nova site, and other locations in the Gaza envelope. The event will also feature a market showcasing local businesses and performances by regional artists, with organizers hoping to establish the race as an annual tradition.