Initiative to bring football to children of southern Israel launches with first-ever Football Marathon

Mifalot, in partnership with J Cubed Communications, embarks on large-scale campaign to bring post-trauma sport programming, and a new football field, to children living near the Gaza border

Mifalot kicked off a fundraising campaign to bring post-trauma sport programming to the children of southern Israel with the first-ever Israel Football Marathon on Thursday, November 20.

The initiative continues with a crowdfunding campaign launched today, November 24, to further raise funds to use football as a post-trauma tool for children living in the region. Visit the campaign page here.

The campaign aims to launch yearlong post-trauma football programs for children living along the Gaza border. The programs will use football as a tool to empower, educate and help children deal with post-traumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of conflict. The educational programs will take place on a rebuilt football field at Kibbutz Mefalsim. 

“We’re incredibly excited to launch this campaign to help the children of southern Israel. Football can be an incredible vehicle in helping individuals, particularly children, cope with this trauma,” said Dr. Meir Orenstein, Mifalot CEO. “To bring football programs and a new field would be a very special thing for all children in the region.”

The first-ever Football Marathon was held at Hapoel Tel Aviv’s training facility in south Tel Aviv and featured 18 teams, sponsored by companies throughout Israel including the likes of Adidas, Aroma Israel, Mega Sport, Isracard and more. Over 300 footballers played a total of 126 games, raising thousands of dollars for children in southern Israel.

“The Football Marathon was an incredible event to be a part of and I’m delighted to have been able to participate,” said Noam Gdelyahu of Team Aroma Israel. “It was eye-opening to see so many people having fun in competition and all doing it for a good cause.”

The campaign will continue into early 2015 as Mifalot aims to raise awareness for children suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).