Dozens hike in memory of child terror victim

Over $5,000 raised during hike to support the Koby Mandell Foundation, which provides healing programs for families struck by terrorism.

By SHARON UDASIN
Participants in the Kilometers for Koby hike 370 (photo credit: Dena Wimpfheimer)
Participants in the Kilometers for Koby hike 370
(photo credit: Dena Wimpfheimer)
More than 60 adults and children put on their hiking shoes for the fifth day of Succot, walking along the Israel Trail and Burma Road to raise funds in memory of terror victim Koby Mandell.
Participants in the Kilometers for Koby hike, which began at Neveh Shalom and ended at Park Eshtaol, were raising the money in support of Camp Koby and the Koby Mandell Foundation, which serve to benefit families who have lost loved ones due to terror attacks and other tragic circumstances.
After making aliya from America with his parents Seth and Sherri in 1996, 13-yearold Koby and his friend Yosef Ish Ran were stoned to death by terrorists in May 2001 while hiking in a canyon near the Mandells’ home.
Following their son’s death, the Mandells created the Koby Mandell Foundation to provide healing programs for families struck by terrorism, as well as Camp Koby, specifically established to help children who have lost a family member.
Participants in the hike were required to raise $180 per person or $360 per family in donations. In total, the campaign raised more than $5,000, with more expected in the coming days due to pledges, the Mandells said.
In addition to the 60 hike participants, more than 100,000 people traveled the trails and enjoyed the forests all around the country on Monday.
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael- Jewish National Fund (KKLJNF) reported tens of thousands of visitors at the organization’s forests and parks across Israel. Particularly popular among families were Britania Park in the Shfela, Festival Tzeva Glili in Hatzor Haglilit, and the cycling trails in the Ben-Shemen Forest.
KKL-JNF also opened public succot in many of its forests and parks.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) also reported huge numbers of visitors to national parks and nature reserves, counting already about 90,000 people by midday Monday. Most popular for INPA sites were Park Hayarkon, the ancient Nabatean market in Mamshit, Beit Guvrin National Park and the 21st Mosaic Festival in the fortress of Yehiam National Park, the authority said.