Running for Orphans 2020

My father, Mardig Herculian, was from Anjar, Lebanon, and died there unexpectedly in 2006.  Every year, he'd go to Anjar in the Spring where we still have a house and enjoy time with his relatives.  He always returned in October, in time for my birthday.  In 2006, he suddenly fell ill and since the war had started with Israel, he was turned away from the hospital.  My cousin called me on a Sunday night and told me that I needed to come now if I wanted to see my father before he died.  By God's grace, my brother, mother, and I were on a flight to Damascus less than 24 hours later and literally walked across the bombed-out border to Lebanon to see my father.  My father was alive for another 12 hours before dying in our home that night.  

As a lawyer, I am trained to be skeptical and charities are no exception.  I was determined to find a charity I could trust to deliver funds to the intended recipients without wasting money.  I was fortunate to discover the Society for Orphaned Armenian Relief (SOAR) (www.soar-us.org) which I have been personally supporting for over 10 years.  

Established in 2005, SOAR provides humanitarian relief to orphaned Armenian children and adults with disabilities.  With 110 chapters and more than 600 volunteers worldwide, SOAR has only 11 paid staff (paid less than $60,000/year combined).  All donations to SOAR are tax deductible.  

I run 13.1 miles every year to keep my father's memory alive and pay it forward. But the Half Marathon was cancelled this year due to the pandemic. I wasn't going to run. But then, I met (virtually) John Gardella at CMBG3 Law, whose law firm made a $1,000 donation and challenged me to run 13.1 miles by the end of the year for a matching donation from him personally. How could I say no?  

Join me on Thanksgiving (Nov 26, 2020) for a virtual run to raise money for SOAR. 

To join, (1) make a donation in any amount and comment #RunningWithTalar (2) post on social media that you're #RunningWithTalar on Thanksgiving and/or (3) send an e-mail to talarherculian@yahoo.com to let me know you'll be running with me somewhere. 

Please don't let the amount of your donation stop you from giving what you can afford. Even $5 donations add up. Consider giving $5 today. 

Isaiah 40:31

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

they will SOAR on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.