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