ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran and ADI Jerusalem teamed up with the Annanim Organization (Clouds: Flying for the Community) for a unique activity that provided children with disabilities and injured IDF soldiers undergoing rehabilitation with a chance to soar above their disabilities and injuries to touch the sky.
Approximately 30 airplanes took part in the special activity in honor of the new school year, flying dozens of passengers over the skies of southern Israel for a bird’s eye view of the land.
Major-General (res.) Doron Almog, chairman of ADI centers commented that, “today we had a chance to do something very special. The children and residents of ADI and the heroic IDF soldiers undergoing rehabilitation at the Harvey and Gloria Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center at ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran will never be able to be pilots, yet today, they touched the sky. They experienced a few moments of special joy and that is exactly what we do at our rehabilitation centers. We energize and empower people to feel equal among equals.”
Injured IDF soldier Michael Guttesman, presently undergoing rehabilitation at the Kaylie Rehabilitation Medical Center was one of the soldiers who took part in the flyover. “For me, this was a closure of sorts. The last time I flew, I was in critical condition being taken by helicopter to Soroka Hospital. To see our beautiful country, the land we fought for, from the sky, is a wonderful experience, and to do so as part of such a special activity, together with other rehabilitation patients and the amazing ADI team was just awesome. In rehabilitation, we make small, significant steps every day. It is part of a long process, but we see daily progress. Today was extraordinary.”
Once everyone was back on the ground, participants received their wings, a symbol of their strong spirit and the hope instilled in them by the rehabilitation teams through hard work and special activities such as this.
“I would like to thank ADI’s dedicated staff, pilot Shai Shimon, chairman of Annanim who led the flyover, all of the wonderful pilots who enabled this activity, and everyone who took part in this special event,” concluded Almog. “At ADI, we see ability in disability. The sky is the limit.”
