UAE | General

Jumping into the water with good intentions

Over 600 swimmers who participated in charity swim near Burj Al Arab raised Dh116,000.

  • By Syed Bilal Shafi, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 14:10 November 14, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • UAE residents participate in a charity swim around the Burj Al Arab.
  • Image Credit: Francois Nel/Gulf News
Image 1 of 6
123456

Dubai: Over 600 swimmers took to the waters around the Burj Al Arab Hotel on Friday as part of an event to raise funds for extending medical assistance in less privileged countries.

Proceeds from the event, which fetched over Dh116,000, will go to Medecines Sans Frontieres, a humanitarian medical organisation which provides life-saving emergency medical care in more than 60 countries worldwide.

According to Kourtwe Schaefar, the events and partnership coordinator, each participant added roughly Dh27,000 to the charity fund.

The race, organised by the Jumeirah Group, a hotel and hospitality management company, included three non-competition heats and a competitive heat in which 160 swimmers participated.

The competitive event saw the participants cutting a one-kilometre arc around the Burj Al Arab after starting off from the left of the landmark structure.

"I was a bit nervous initially because I had recognised some people from other swimming competitions and had never thought I would win," said Ben Parnell, a British expatriate who ranked first in the men's competitive category.

"This is the first time we are attending this event and I hope poor people around the world will benefit [from the proceeds]. I got to know about the event on the website. It is an excellent way to spend the holiday," said Jennifer Hedges, an American.

Schoolgoers pass test

Jordan Cass, a 15-year-old from South Africa, had other goals on her mind. "I took part in this race so that I can tell my classmates that I swam around one of world's best hotels," said Cass, a student of Dubai American Academy School.

Nat Guney, 15, said, "This was a tough competition because we had to swim for a kilometre but at the same time it was exciting and challenging as we had to swim around the Burj."

Around 100 lifeguards from Wild Wadi were at hand to ensure the safety of the partipants in the water.

  • Rate this article
  • Average reader rating (0 votes) 0 Stars
Tools

Emailing an article to friend is a simple way to share a news item. Your friend will receive an email with your name and email address as well any personal message you choose to send.

The information you provide on this page will not be used to send unsolicited emails.

This service is not intended to encourage spam, and action may be taken against individuals who maliciously enter personal details of another individual.

Share this article

Related Articles

  1. Hundreds join charity swimming

    Hundreds join charity swimming

    Hundreds join charity swim around Dubai's iconic Burj Al Arab

More from UAE General

  1. Disability is no handicap for this Emirati

  2. UAE maintains economic status on global stage

  3. Exhibition to showcase UAE art in New York

  4. Lebanese expats celebrate independence day

All articles in General

More from UAE

Gulf News
Popular in UAE
Readers' pictures
Your pictures

Readers' pictures

A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week

Latest news
Community Reports

More from Community Reports

Weather

More from Weather