Boy Plans Charity Swim as Bat Mitzvah Gift
An 11-year-old New York boy is reportedly planning a one-mile charity swim in the Hudson River as a special bat mitzvah gift to a friend.
“Life is about doing things for other people,” Aaron Perl told 1010 WINS radio in New York.
Perl and Ally WItt have been inspired by Witt’s uncle, Jeff, who is mentally disabled.
“He’s so brave, he’s really friendly and he’s a fabulous uncle,” Witt told the radio station.
Witt has already raised $6,000 for the Association For The Help of Retarded Citizens, the organization that has helped her uncle, for her mitzvah project.
Perl is continuing the fundraising with his charity swim called “Mitzvah on the Hudson.”
“It’s good that I can do this since I’ve gone through stuff, harder stuff, I know how it is,” Perl told the station.
Perl was born with a short femur and has undergone surgery to correct it. Despite that problem, he has competed in 13 triathalons since he was 8.
He’s hoping to inspire others with his swim, no matter how much cash he raises.
“It doesn’t matter what you do. It doesn’t matter if you raise 10 bucks or a 1,000 bucks, it’s still making a difference,” Perl said.
A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
