Operation Smile gets donation

Abu Dhabi: The Color Run, together with Daman, the National Health Insurance Company, has presented a cheque for $6,813 (Dh25,024) to Operation Smile at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

The grand total was a joint effort of every individual who took part in The Color Run presented by Daman’s ActiveLife in March, with $1 of each entry fee donated to the Operation Smile charity through Just Giving.

Delan Silva, Digital Manager of Daman, the presenting sponsor, teamed up with eight-year-old philanthropy superstar and Color Runner, Zaara Mohyuddin, to present the cheque, after she personally raised almost $3,000 for the charity.

After seeing an advert for the unique event, Zaara recruited her mother and father to join her on a mission to “have fun, get some exercise and raise money for charity”. Zaara found her passion for charity after learning about Operation Smile during a school assembly.

Having set an ambitious target to raise enough money to help 10 children get their smiles back, the young Color Runner was overwhelmed by the response. Zaara eventually raised a total of $2,995 (Dh11,000) for Operation Smile — enough money to fund 13 operations.

Morag Cromey-Hawke, Executive Director of Operation Smile UAE, added: “We are thrilled to once again be chosen as the official charity of The Color Run presented by ActiveLife — with the help of events such as these and inspirational people like Zaara, we are able to help children smile.”

The Color Run presented by ActiveLife saw participants walk, dance and cartwheel their way round a 5km course under a shower of vibrant coloured powder at Yas Marina Circuit. The event marked the second Color Run to burst into the UAE, following Dubai’s successful event in December 2013.