1. RACING TO GIVE THE GIFT
OF LIFE: BEN BRODY'S
BAR MITZVAH PROJECT
Jun 22, 2012 by Gift of Life NEWS
When twelve year old Ben Brody of Englewood, NJ crossed the finish line of the
Celebrate Israel Run, he knew that the race to save lives had just begun. A
young and aspiring Bar Mitzvah student, Ben is a unique individual who uses his
energy and free-willed spirit to instill strength in his community. For months, Ben
and his father Todd trained tirelessly in preparation for the run and on Sunday
June 3rd, they participated in the Celebrate Israel Run as a part of the festivities
held on Celebrate Israel Day in New York City.
The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation holds a strong value to the Brody
family. Ellen Brody, mother of Ben and member of the Board of Directors for Gift
of Life, has known the Feinberg family for over forty years. It has been one of her
main responsibilities to instill the values of pikuach nefesh (saving a life) into her
children. The family’s close attachment to Jay fueled this collective commitment

2. to raise awareness and funds for Gift of Life. His participation in the Celebrate
Israel Run marks the beginning of a life-long commitment to the Gift of Life. Ben
is determined to join Gift of Life’s registry, so he can have the opportunity to give
someone a second chance at life.
Participating in the Celebrate Israel Run was more than a physical activity for
Ben. It allowed him to practice the importance of giving of oneself. Ben has been
educated and impacted greatly by his project: “This experience has helped me
understand the importance of giving tzedakah.” Together, Ben and Todd
completed a strenuous activity and raised more than $2,400 for donor kits to be
processed, potentially saving someone’s life.
As a young B’nai mitzvah, Ben is a huge advocate for Gift of Life and encourages
other prospective Bar and Bat Mitzvah students to get involved with the
organization. “Gift of Life is a great organization for many reasons, not only
because they save lives,” said Ben. Educating and soliciting funds from his
friends, families, and supporters was simple and allowed him to focus his
concentration on preparing his body for the running course. “The website is a
phenomenal tool. You can literally track the lives we save because of my efforts,”
said Ben.
His commitment to Gift of Life will not stop here. “I will stay involved in Gift of Life
forever,” said Ben. “Even though I am becoming a man at my Bar Mitzvah, I am
still not old enough to donate stem cells,” he said. Ben hopes to attend the
Annual Partners for Life Gala in the upcoming year. His participation in the
Celebrate Israel Run marks the beginning of a life-long commitment to the Gift of
Life. Ben is determined to join Gift of Life’s registry, so he can have the
opportunity to give someone the gift of life.
Gift of Life offers a multitude of opportunities for children and teenagers. To learn
more about our Mitzvah programs and other projects, visit Gift of Life’s website.
Remember, you have the power to save a life.