Lior Suchard wows London crowd as charity night raises hundreds of thousands for disabled children in Israel
The mentalist headlined Simcha LeYeled’s London fundraiser, helping generate vital support for children with complex disabilities
Lior Suchard helped conjure up a magical evening – and hundreds of thousands of pounds to support disabled kids in Israel – at a charity evening in London.
The master mentalist gave a jaw-dropping 40-minute performance at Simcha LeYeled’s sixth fundraiser in the UK, with the event having previously funded an expansion of the charity’s services in the south.
The charity is the only foundation in Israel supporting children with complex physical disabilities, host Mili Avital told the 250 guests on Sunday night at the Leonardo St Paul’s Hotel.
It provides weekly mentoring in the homes of beneficiaries, puts on parties and educates the wider public about inclusion in sessions run by its own graduates. Its flagship annual event is an annual camp in Eilat, funded by the Wynn family, who were among those in attendance.
Itai, who lost a leg six years ago after being struck by a speeding car that killed his mum and sister, received a standing ovation after saying, “Simcha LeYeled helped me forget about my disabilities, and I did things I wouldn’t even dream of doing with two legs.”
His father, Ephraim, who is confined to a wheelchair after the same accident, said, “Itai was still in rehab when Simcha LeYeled came into our lives. As a parent, I think the name of the charity should be changed to Simcja LeHoreh – Happiness for the Parent. Seeing him going out for an event is a joy I wish on any parent. He finished high school with good grades, and after climbing mountains, he has now started to focus on the next big step of enlisting in the IDF.”
JNF UK announced it would provide an additional 25p for every pound donated on the night, up to 200k.
Elan Gorji, CEO of JNF UK, said: “As parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles and friends, we all want the same thing for children: to be able to fulfil their potential. To not just get by. For the families that turn to Simcha LeYeled, that wish becomes harder, but the dream doesn’t disappear. In fact, it becomes sharper. Simcha LeYeled refuses to allow a medical file to define a child.”
He said that his charity’s mission in working in the Negev and the Israeli periphery was about ensuring that a child’s outcomes aren’t determined by their postcode. Together, he suggested, “Our task is to ensure that every child, whatever their challenges, wherever they live, has a chance to fulfil their potential.”
The event was also addressed by Ran Avidan, board member of Simcha LeYeled, who said it costs £1800 for each child to go through the charity’s programme each year amid little government support.
He describes event producer Tali Tzemach as “not just a gifted producer but a bulldozer who will move everything out of the way to ensure success” when it comes to the charity.
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