Begun in 2003 as Palmetto Bay resident Rachel Dubow’s Bat Mitzvah Project to benefit the Children’s Bereavement Center (CBC), the annual event returns to Coral Reef Park on Sunday, Jan. 30.
Rachel, who is now a sophomore at the University of Florida; her brother, Brian, now a junior at Miami Palmetto High, and their mother, Adrian, and father, Ken, are glad to continue their mission to help others.
“The overall feeling from our family regarding ‘The Race,’ is that we are very proud and appreciative of the important work that the Children’s Bereavement Center does for our community, ”Adrian Dubow said. “We also feel very fortunate to be able to support and promote this cause and this would not happen without the continued participation and commit- ment of our friends, family, sponsors and community.
“We appreciate everyone’s involvement and support. This is a grass roots family project that has stayed simple yet grown over the past nine years.”
Although called a race, the event is really a walk in which sponsored participants make a three-mile trek around the park’s walking path to raise donations for the ongoing work of the CBC, a non-profit organization assisting children who have lost parents or a special loved one deal with their grief. The loss of Rachel and Brian’s uncle, Brent Hershman, inspired the first race.
“The older I get, I better understand the impact that the Children’s Bereavement Center has on our community,” Rachel Dubow said. “I have lost two close friends in the past nine years and the center has been there for me and my friends as we grieved our losses. I have been a volunteer, fundraiser and a participant at the center. I feel very connected to this organization and I am very happy to continue to host The Race.”
Her brother, who joined Rachel in hosting the annual event in recent years, agrees with her about the race’s importance.
“I am always happy to bring my friends together for a fun and active morning that supports this great cause,” Brian Dubow said.
There are several middle school and high school groups who participate for community service. The Dubows will distribute community service certificates at The Race.
Coral Reef Park is located at 7895 SW 152 St. in Palmetto Bay. Registration begins at 9 a.m. in the picnic area adjacent to the playground. The Race begins at 10 a.m., and brunch will be served afterwards. An $18 race contribution is requested of participants and checks should be sent to the Children’s Bereavement Center at 7600 S. Red Rd., Suite 307, South Miami, FL 33143. Sponsor sheets are optional at the race, but there will be a prize for the person with the most sponsors.
For information contact Adrian Dubow at 305-253-8955.
