Abu Dhabi: More than 20,000 residents gathered at the Abu Dhabi Corniche to participate in the 19th edition of the Terry Fox run, which raised Dh387,000 for cancer research on Friday.
The event, which included an eight-kilometre marathon and Zumba lessons, also celebrated the completion of four ongoing research projects at the UAE University.
“We are now screening about 37 projects, and will be awarding funds to the selected initiatives by next year’s run,” Nafisa Taha, chair of the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run organising committee, told Gulf News ahead of the start of the marathon.
The now-worldwide runs began when Canadian humanitarian Terry Fox, whose right leg was amputated due to bone cancer, decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
Starting in 1980, Fox persisted for 143 days, and only stopped because the cancer had spread to his lungs. He died in 1981 at the age of 22, but his initiative led to the development of the Terry Fox Foundation and a series of runs across the world.
The marathon in the capital began at about 10am, after an opening ceremony attended by his Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, and Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President.
The run also saw the participation of Terry Fox’s sister and international director of the Terry Fox Foundation, Judith Fox-Alder, as well as his niece and the Foundation’s international fundraising coordinator, Jessy Fox.
“Just as cancer knows no boundaries, Terry’s dream appears to have none. It is overwhelming to see how Terry’s message has got across to so many people across the globe,” Jessy said.
Fox-Alder, who also attended last year’s event that raised about Dh750,000, said Abu Dhabi is one of the largest single locations for the run.
This year, the Embassy of Canada and the Canadian Business Council donated funds usually reserved for their annual Flag Day reception (to commemorate the inauguration of the flag in 1965) towards the run. Arif Lalani, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, also urged residents to participate in the marathon, and was present with his family.
Erica Dolland, 33, an American teacher in the capital who was attending the marathon with her friends, said the significance of cancer research resonates with so many people because of the run.
“It gets together a group of people for a meaningful cause, and also promotes healthy living,” she said.
Jude Ahmad, a Grade 9 pupil from Palestine, was attending the run for the first time, but said she had always purchased the T-shirts to support the cause.
“I have always heard how much fun it is, and I happy to be part of this noble cause today,” she said.
