| This annual marathon is hosted by the Pyunic Center for Disabled. The majority of the participants were in some way handicapped, with the rest being friends, family and others who support the cause that Pyunic represents. The marathon, now in it's 16 th year, is part of Pyunic's public education efforts to raise awareness about disabled people in Armenia and encourage society to welcome them.
There were over 60 participants who took part in this 22 kilometer (13.75 miles) marathon from Opera Square to the Holy Sea of Etchmiadzin . Personally, being without a handicap it was extremely difficult for me to even attempt this marathon and it was more than breathtaking watching people with handicaps maximize their mental and physical endurance to complete this 22 kilometer journey.
About half way through this marathon I found myself surrounded by the stunning landscape that Armenia offers, with an enormous Mt. Ararat to my left and a blossoming pasture of flowers to my right. In front of me people were holding the Armenian flag high and proud, with the wind gusts blowing through the flag with such precision it embodied the Armenian culture with one glance.
While all of this was going on I was pushing a young woman in a wheelchair who was too tired to continue and that's when I realized that when the alarm clock rang at 9am, it wasn't the alarm clock telling me to get up, but God telling me to get up, get out, and enjoy this world by giving back to people who are less fortunate than myself.
I am overzealous about the Birthright program, in that I feel every Armenian should take this opportunity to give back to their motherland.
Raffi ElChemmas (USA),
HFH volunteer and BR/DH participant
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