מרתון בנק לאומי - תל אביב 28.2.2025

Tel Aviv-Yafo Mayor's Greeting to the 2025 Bank Leumi Tel Aviv-Yafo Marathon Runners Dear runners, cheerers, and sports enthusiasts,

For over a year now, we've all been living with racing hearts, shortness of breath, and tense muscles – and I'm not just referring to those athletes amongst us. The reality we are living in is unnatural, turbulent, worrying, and burdensome. The difficult and ongoing war that should have been over by now, the incomprehensible fact that there are still dozens of hostages who haven't returned home, the bloody price paid by our precious sons, the constant worry for the well-being of those serving in active duty and reserves and their families, the residents of the Gaza Envelope and the North who are still evacuated from their homes, the reality in Gaza that most of us find very difficult to see and acknowledge, the struggling economy – all these take a heavy toll on the body and soul of each and every one of us. The tense and alert body yearns for movement and breath. It is heartwarming to see the Bank Leumi Tel Aviv-Yafo Marathon, returning after an understandable one-year break, as an opportunity to raise our heart rates, this time for the right reasons! The truth? We missed it! The Bank Leumi Tel Aviv-Yafo Marathon reminds us all that even within pain and difficulty, sport is one of the most beneficial ways for healing, balance, and comfort – it is a cure for the soul as well as remedy for the body. Runners can testify that improving cardio endurance also benefits posture and skeletal structure, memory and concentration, mood, happiness, and calmness. The Bank Leumi Tel Aviv-Yafo Marathon, as a clear representative of sporting activity, has an important part in our mental resilience, both as individuals and as a group.That's why we insist on keeping it going, rain or shine, peace or crisis. This year's Bank Leumi Tel Aviv Marathon is dedicated to willpower and inner strength. Our content partners who joined us this year are real-life heroes; they prove that the human spirit is stronger than pain, challenges, and obstacles along the way. The IDF's Personnel Division and the "BeHatzdaa" organization enabled the participation of 25,000 reserve soldiers, wounded veterans from all of Israel's conflicts, and families of the fallen, who paid the ultimate price – for us. All 40,000 runners, together with tens of thousands of supporters and cheerleaders along the running routes, will fill hearts with adrenaline and bodies with energy for life, remember those we've lost, and support those who are healing. The Bank Leumi Tel Aviv-Yafo Marathon is also a festive display of the Tel Aviv spirit and our city's values. Tel Aviv-Yafo, which we all love so much, rises and flourishes in routine times, and knows how to be a source of strength and comfort for its residents even in times of emergency. Since October 7th, Tel Aviv-Yafo has done everything in its power to be a home, even if temporary, for women and men evacuated from their homes, stands by the families of soldiers in active duty and reserves, assists the families of the hostages, and ensures the safety and security of our residents. I invite everyone to be a part of this experience. Whether you are running or cheering, let's make some noise and lift those spirits! Good luck to all our runners! And may we soon celebrate the return of all hostages home, and bring some healing to our collective broken heart. Ron Huldai Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo

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