Abu Dhabi: Run, walk, jog, roller-blade, skateboard the course at the upcoming Terry Fox Run (TFR) this Friday is also accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but cyclists will not be permitted due to safety considerations.
The 16th annual Abu Dhabi TFR is expected to attract over 15,000 participants this Friday at the Abu Dhabi Corniche, where a band from the Abu Dhabi police, Al Bohra Community Drumming Band alongside lively DJ music in the background, are expected to keep participants enthusiastic as they start their morning before they hit the concourse, with a 15 minute cardiovascular warm up by a certified instructor.
The event since its initiation, aims to raise funds for cancer research projects, such as that being conducted at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in UAE University, who will be presented with a Dh300,000 cheque this Friday, by Shaikh Sultain Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the president and patron of the run.
Speaking to Gulf News about the initiative, Nafisa Taha, Chairperson of the Abu Dhabi TFR committee, said: “Terry Fox is more than a run; it is a dream that inspired and gave hope to millions around the world. The UAE is no exception, a success story in its own right. The run has supported 35 cancer research projects to date, as well as played a great role in raising awareness among school children, reaching out to the community, and contributing to the international medical researchers in search of a cure for cancer.”
“For us expatriates living in the UAE, it feels as though this is the minimum we can do for this great country that we reside in. We are proud to see the participation rate of the TFR grow year after year. In 1995, we started off with 100 participants. In this year’s run, we’re expecting around 15,000 if not more. We need to show cancer survivors that they are not alone and that there is hope.”
TFR is named in honour of Canadian amputee runner Terrance Stanley Fox who at 21 attempted to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research, which today is no longer just a Canadian tradition, but an international event in support of Terry’s dream of finding a cure for cancer.
Despite a 15 centimetre (six inches) amputated right leg above the knee due to a malignant tumour, Terry’s dream to raise money for the fight against cancer, according to his sister Judith Fox-Alder, began while undergoing the physically and emotionally draining ordeal of chemotherapy.
Details of the event
- Venue: Abu Dhabi Corniche at 30th Street interchange
- Date: Friday February 18th, 2011
- Time: 8 am
- Follow the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run team on twitter : TFRinAbuDhabi
- There are no entrance fees for the run. You can come to just show support and participate in the run. However, for members of the public that want to make donations, there are designated stands for accepting donations to the terry fox organisation.
- T-shirts are not distributed. You can buy them at the stand on the morning of the run, or before that from marina mall or Abu Dhabi mall’s Terry Fox stands. The money from these t-shirts goes to the Terry Fox Organisation. Prices vary depending on whether the shirt is regular or vintage, for adults or children. Overall, the price does not exceed Dh30.
