T
hey’ll be thinking about Cara as
they walk or run.
Cara Lopatin, 18, is a childhood
cancer survivor. During her recovery, her
parents, Rabbi Asher and Rachel Tessler
Lopatin of Huntington Woods, turned to
Chai Lifeline, a New-York-based orga-
nization that helps children and families
coping with cancer and other serious
illnesses.
On Feb. 6, the Lopatins, along with
three of their four children, their friends
Shoshana and Rabbi David Fain, also of
Huntington Woods, and other supporters
from around the country will participate
in the Miami Marathon in Florida. Their
Team Cara will be part of Team Lifeline
and will raise funds to support Chai
Lifeline’s programs.
With 420 runners and walkers, Team
Lifeline will be the largest organized team
at the marathon.
Asher Lopatin is executive director of
JCRC/AJC of Detroit and spiritual leader
of Kehillat Etz Chayim in Huntington
Woods. Rachel Lopatin is a market-
ing professional at Farber Hebrew Day
School. David Fain is the rabbi at Hillel
Day School. His wife, Shoshana, is a cer-
tified health coach and JFamily director
of children and family engagement at the
Jewish Community Center.
Team Cara for 2022 includes Shayna
Lopatin, 20, Judah Lopatin, 16, and
Gideon Lopatin, 14, as well as a number
of out-of-town family and friends. The
Fains’ older two sons, Yair, 6, and Natan,
4, will be in Florida to cheer them on.
Ironically, Cara is the only member of
the Lopatin family not participating. The
Farber Hebrew Day School grad is study-
ing at a girls’ seminary in Jerusalem this
year.
Cara developed a brain tumor when
she was 7 and another when she was 9,
said her mother. She was treated with
chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell
transplant.
In 2013 and 2014, she attended Camp
Simcha in New York’s Catskill mountains,
the Chai Lifeline summer camp for chil-
dren with cancer, blood disorders and
chronic illness.
26 | FEBRUARY 3 • 2022
OUR COMMUNITY
Team Cara
Huntington Woods
families run to support
Chai Lifeline.
BARBARA LEWIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER
David and Shoshana Fain with Cara Lopatin in
2013, the first year Team Cara participated in the
Miami Marathon.
From left, Cara,
Rachel and Asher
Lopatin, Warren
Tessler, and
Gideon, Shayna
and Judah Lopatin
at the Miami
Marathon in 2019.
COURTESY OF TEAM CARA