As you may recall, when training for a marathon or Ironman triathlon [2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run] I have on several occasions engaged in fundraising for the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation but this year I have selected a different cause: First Friends of New Jersey & New York.
Immigrants have been attacked openly by the policies of the Trump Administration. Parents have been separated from their children at the border, migrants have been detained all over the country, and now the administration is attempting to terminate the long-standing Flores Settlement, which limits the detention of migrant children to 20 days.
It is easy to sit back and conclude that the immigration and migration crisis is a problem too big to solve and too far away to be a concern. But realistically, we could all be migrants one day: climate change migrants, political refugees or people targeted for no fault of their own. It has not been 100 years since German Jews were trying to escape the Nazis at a time when many observer were still saying: "Oh, it won't be that bad." And right-wing extremism is again on the rise in Germany and certainly in the US.
First Friends of NJ and NY upholds the inherent dignity and humanity of detained immigrants and asylum seekers. The organization provides compassion and hope through volunteer visitation, resettlement assistance and advocacy. Please check out their website HERE and support my fundraising if you so desire.
