UAE | General

Cancer survivor runs into Dubai as part of trans-continental tour

A two-time cancer survivor ran his way into Dubai on Wednesday as part of his trans-continental run to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

  • By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 September 28, 2006
  • Gulf News

Dubai: A two-time cancer survivor ran his way into Dubai on Wednesday as part of his trans-continental run to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.

Findlay Young, a former thyroid cancer patient, aims to run 24 half-marathons in 13 countries in 24 days. He ran from the Le Meridien Hotel Dubai yesterday at 6am and finished at 9am.

The 32-year-old Scot told Gulf News that he decided to run across the different countries, starting from Iceland to Brazil, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and India, before arriving in the UAE, to show how cancer affected people from various walks of life in all countries.

"By running, it shows that cancer is a fairly worldwide disease, that it has a strong emotional meaning all over the world, from rich countries to poor countries."

He added his next stop was Ethiopia before flying off to Greece and Holland, and finishing in Newcastle culminating with the BUPA Great North Run.

Young said his running was also symbolic as a way to celebrate life and show other cancer patients that a diagnosis was not necessarily a "death sentence."

He added it also gave him a chance to contribute, by raising funds for UK-based charity Cancer Research UK. Young has so far managed to raise £50,000 (Dh346,445) through his run.

He said he was especially struck by the difference of cancer treatment standards between countries.

"I go to different countries and get a better understanding on … the treatments that are available between countries. Like America where it's cutting edge treatment and India where it's all about the accessibility of the drugs," he said.

Mooch

Mooch ado about nothing

Mooch represents dreams, troubles of a Dubaiite

The villa owners have now brought their own kit to check chlorine levels

Pool horror

Twins hospitalised after swimming pool horror

Picture of Burj Khalifa taken at 12.19am on Sunday. The picture clearly shows fog-covered Burj Khalifa, quashing rumours of fire.

General

Reports of Burj Khalifa fire: Rumours or real?

Community Reports

More from Community Reports

National Day wallpaper

40 years of UAE

Download commemorative wallpapers of the UAE

<i>Building a Nation</i> is both accessible enough for newcomers in the UAE to appreciate the emirates and informed enough for long-term residents to value the history and context.

Book

Gulf News' book chronicles UAE's rich history