ST. LOUIS — Hundreds packed Creve Coeur Park to raise money for Palestine on Sunday.
Hundreds of thousands of children have suffered during Israel's year-long military offensive in Gaza.
HEAL Palestine held its first annual HEAL Palestine 5K on Sunday. The nonprofit aims to improve the lives of Palestinian youth by providing essential healthcare, educational support, humanitarian aid, and leadership development opportunities.
No. 1 in the 5K line was 12-year-old Hadi Zauout. The young man was still able to smile after losing his leg in a devastating bombing that struck his home in central Gaza.
"Honestly, he's happy to be here. He has a lot more opportunities than a lot of the kids in Gaza right now. He was able to get a prosthetic leg and he's able to walk still and he's like any other kid," a translator said for him.
Zauout was the first guest and patient with HEAL Palestine in St. Louis. The global healing program is dedicated to providing children with tools to recover.
"HEAL. It stands for health, education, aid and leadership. So, we're trying to work on all of these altogether and help the kids of Gaza be prepared for the future without carrying all this burden," volunteer Maisson Bartguhouty said.
The group reeled in money for their first 5K drawing more than 800 people to Creve Coeur Park on Sunday.
"We appreciate people getting their humanity in trying to do something for the whole community. Not only the Arab community. Palestinian community. Or the kids of Gaza."
It brought out Nawal Abuhamdeh, who has been in St. Louis her whole life but hears the cries from her family in Jerusalem.
"I've been in mourning practically my whole life as a Palestinian. However, this last year has put a toll on my mental health, my physical health."
Abuhamdeh puts that pain into her nonprofit, a Muslim scouting organization leading and teaching young people.
"We started after disbanding from the Girls Scouts for the hypocrisy towards raising money for Palestine and for participating in activities for Palestine because they deem them as political," Abuhamdeh said.
The group raised $30,000 through making and selling bracelets and sponsors patches to wear and sell to support HEAL.
"We have to care for the world, make the world a better place for everybody. And when we see oppression and injustice, we stand up for it," Abuhamdeh said.
When asked if he had any encouragement for other children in his situation, Zauout said, "May God protect them, and nothing happens to them, and they are safe."
A volunteer said HEAL Palestine is supporting 28 kids from Gaza currently, and Zauout was being treated at Shriner's Hospital in St. Louis.
The nonprofit is working to pair two more children with host families.