Summer. Park Yamit 2000 is full of families taking a break from their routine and enjoying vacation. The staff of the water Park is used to seeing the park full with families; camps and school groups renting out the park for the day and enjoying the water slides, huge grassy lawns, and pools.
This week the park was also full. This week the park was also rented out for a day. But anyone looking for even a moment would realize that this group was something different. This day the park was open exclusively to B’Lev Echad families. B’lev Echad, an organization which helps children struggling with illness or special needs, provided a fun !!!!filled day for B’lev Echad families entirely free of charge
B’Lev Echad understands the importance of taking a break. A break from therapy, a break from treatments, a break from hospitalizations, suffering and pain. And B’lev Echad understand the power of fun. And so, B’Lev Echad provided a full day of activities specially designed for B’Lev Eched children and their families.
Starting at 11 o’ clock busses came from all over the country. Children, some in wheelchairs some walking with assistance, came pouring out of the buses together with their parents and siblings. For hours B’Lev Echad families enjoyed some of highest and fastest slides in country.
Cries of joy testified to the success of the event and showed how important such an event is to the mental health of B’Lev Echad families.
The staff was in awe watching tens of volunteers carrying their physically disabled campers up 6 flights of stairs so that they too could go down a slide. “There is not even one slide that this cute kid won’t go down”, said one volunteer,”why should he miss out just because he is disabled!”
All throughout the day huge tanks were available providing cold water throughout the park, while volunteers from the logistical staff gave out hundreds of bags of chocolate milk generously donated by Tara together with dozens and dozens of rolls graciously donated by Tzvi Bakery- all of this added to the sense of fun and relaxation for the families of B’lev Echad.
MK Uri Maklev from United Torah Judaism and MK Michael Malkieli from Shas surprise the volunteers and the B’Lev Echad families with a visit to the park, making themselves available to hear first-hand about the difficulties of coping with serious ill and special needs children.
MK Malkieli commented, “After coming to this amazing day, I more fully understand the importance of supporting events such as these for families in the religious community struggling with special needs and illness”.
MK Maklev pointed out that all of us can learn what the initiative of one person can do- David Whitman accomplished what countless governments offices failed to do- to provide a true sense of fun and relief for the entire family.
Late in the evening, tired but happy from a day full of activity, hundreds of B’Lev Echad families boarded the buses to head for home, with renewed energy to face the challenges of tomorrow.
Founder and director David Whitman together with the hundreds of volunteers of B’Lev Echad have one goal- to continue to provide fun filled, joy producing, supportive activities for the special families of B’Lev Echad.
