CA runner to join New York City Marathon for Syrian Armenian Relief

PanARMENIAN.Net - On Nov 1, Pasadena, California resident Sona Donayan-Arabian will run 26.2 miles through the 5 boroughs of New York City as part of the TCS New York City Marathon, Asbarez reports.

Her goal is to increase awareness about the suffering of war-ravaged Syrian-Armenians, and to raise funds in support of their struggles for sustenance and physical existence in the midst of the devastating civil war in Syria. The 49 year old long-time marathoner and recent cancer survivor is a dietitian and fitness enthusiast who has dedicated many of her past runs to good causes, such as the Armenian Relief Society’s charitable community projects and the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

This time around, her motivation is coming from her father’s birthplace: the beautiful city of Aleppo. Once a welcoming shelter to thousands of Armenian Genocide survivors and orphans, then a vibrant hive for a thriving Armenian community, Aleppo now is a city under siege, with thousands enduring unbearable hardships and in urgent need of financial support.

The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund’s mission is to provide financial assistance to Syrian-Armenians who are victims of the ravaging Syrian civil war. Donations are solicited through the community in the Western United States, and the network of churches, political parties and charity organizations which operate in the region.