Pictured Above: Participants and Team SBH members after last year's Disney Princess Half Marathon.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon is an annual weekend marathon and race series held each year. The marathon is held in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida by runDisney, a division of Disney Sports Enterprises.

If you are a community member and wish to join this exciting event, your go-to organization to join would be Sephardic Bikur Holim. The year’s Team SBH Run For A Dream Weekend will be held on Feb. 22-26 2018. This coming year will be the 8th Disney Marathon that Team SBH is participating in. Last year 300 community members joined Team SBH in the race through the happiest place on earth.

Participants in last year's run.

The weekend is planned by both Disney and SBH and is filled with a adventure. Space on Team SBH is limited so register soon or you’ll be added to their long waiting list. This year the runners, friends, and families joining Team SBH will be staying at the luxurious Grove Resort and Spa.

For a fully sponsored runner, everything is taken care of including flights and ground transportation, four star hotel accommodations, training and nutrition program, delicious catered kosher meals, Team SBH uniforms, and race registration.

High school students enjoying a pre-run meal hosted by Team SBH in 2016.

For a High schooler registering for the Disney Princess Half Marathon, the amount they must raise is $2,200. A college student must raise $2,600. Adults are able to participate as well and must raise $3,600. Middle schoolers may participate in the 5K run for a minimum or $1,100. If you wish to join, but do not want to run there are cheaper rates that are available to go as a spectator.

SBH organizes a space where men can pray in the resort together each day. Shabbat on this weekend is a special event in which you really get to bond with friends, family, and fellow community members in a seminar style atmosphere. Shabbat dinner, lunch, and afternoon meal is served to the attendees with great speeches and programing in between. The marathon is also a bonding and emotional experience for many. Once done, SBH organizes a post-race victory party for everyone to celebrate their accomplishments together.

Young participants celebrating at the pep rally held by SBH the night before the run in 2016.

Cheri Srour from the #BecauseIcan campaign was contacted two years ago by SBH and invited to participate in the Disney Princess Half Marathon. Srour was pushed in her wheelchair by someone along the way.

“As for the "someone,” I nominated my hero and my brother in law, Solly Elmann. With a 7.57 minute pace, pushing me would be a breeze for him and he wouldn't mind the attention,” said Cheri. Her experience with the race in this magical place reaffirmed her belief that dreams really do come true. Cheri is grateful to SBH for making this happen for her two special years in a row.

Members of Team SBH running the 2016 Disney Marathon.

Millie Marcus Schweky ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon with Team SBH four years in a row. She said that training for the first one actually changed her life.

“We were given awesome motivational trainers who took us on weekly group runs and we established a great running community for ourselves,” said Millie of her preparations for the race.

“The best part of the race is seeing fellow community members cheering us on from the sidelines with signs and high fiving us,” said Marcus recalling her fond experiences, “Also seeing the other Team SBH runners on the course in the same colored tee shirts.”

“I look forward to this weekend each year as a time to pause and be thankful for my health, everyone in my life, and for being a part of the greatest community in the world,” explained Marcus.

For more information about how to register or to donate, head to the Team SBH website!

Frieda Schweky

Frieda@sephardic.org

Frieda Schweky is Sephardic.Org's official community events reporter. For inquiries and to get involved with our site, please contact Frieda via email.