Ras Al Khaimah: Hundreds of people from different age groups took part in the first Terry Fox Run held at Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah on Friday.
With babies in strollers and children in fancy dress, families joined veteran runners in the streets to celebrate the indomitable human spirit that defines the legacy of Terry Fox. The runners were cheered on by thousands of enthusiastic spectators.
Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah along with Kenneth Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, sounded the starting horn to send the runners off on the 5-kilometre and 3-kilometre runs.
Organisers said that more than 500 people participated in the inaugural run and many more took part as spectators and volunteers. The RAK Police band staged a march playing traditional tunes before the run.
People wearing T-shirts with the portrait of Terry Fox ran, cycled, jogged and skateboarded.
The non-competitive event is held to raise money for cancer research. The funds collected from the RAK event will be donated to the UAE University Hospital in Al Ain, where cancer research projects is being conducted.
Lewis, who took part in the run, said he was very impressed by the success of the event.
"I have taken part in [the] Terry Fox runs in six different countries and I am impressed with the level of participation and the community spirit witnessed in RAK today," he said.
Good message
Kris Panday, the Canadian Consul General in Dubai, said: "The strong support for the Terry Fox run in the UAE indicates the strong desire of the people to fight a terrible disease that affects so many people and the strong sense of community to rally for a good cause.
"I am glad to note that there is world-class research going on in the UAE University in Al Ain."
The annual Terry Fox runs held across the world take forward the mission of Terry Fox, who became an enduring global icon as he attempted to run across Canada in 1980 after losing a leg to bone cancer, to raise funds for research. Sadly, Terry's bone cancer returned during his run and he died shortly after at the age of just 22.
Gerry Gibson, a business instructor at the RAK Women's College, said: "It is a great experience to represent my country in the Terry Fox Run in Ras Al Khaimah. I have run the race in Canada. It is really good to see many people running in RAK."
Maricia Marquez, who works at the RAK Hospital, said: "We are very excited that RAK has joined the list of other places hosting the Terry Fox Run. It would help a great deal to create awareness about the disease and give people an opportunity to contribute."
Plenty of Arab families and school children from the RAK English Speaking School took part at the run.
Jameela Hareb, an Emirati woman, said that taking part in the run was a humanitarian duty.
