Right foot forward for charity

Walking 550 kilometres in two weeks isn't something most people choose to do — especially during the end-of-the-year holiday season.

Yet Emirati student Jalal Bin Thaneya walked from Jumeirah to the Empty Quarter to raise awareness for Senses Centre, a needs facility for children with disabilities.

 

On December 26, he began his journey at Senses Centre in Jumeirah and travelled by foot along Shaikh Zayed Road to Abu Dhabi. Once there, he walked through the southern towns of Nisab, Bu Sahan, Al Janai and Liwa to Aradah Fort in Umm Al Hisn on the border of the Empty Quarter. Known as Robh Al Khali, the world's largest sand desert is one of the harshest environments in the world, spilling across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Yemen.

The 23-year-old student from Middlesex has completed other charity missions before. In 2007, he walked 600 kilometres in 23 days to raise awareness for the Dubai Autism Centre, becoming the first person to walk around the UAE. He completed his second challenge in 2008, when he walked up the stairs of 100 towers in Dubai for the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre. In 12 days, he took about 90,000 steps.

Bin Thaneya relies on sponsors and public donations to raise money. He is passionate about his support for charity. "Money makes things work but I have given my time and effort for the centre. Money is useless without solidarity and respect," he said.

From Abu Dhabi he walked south on the Hameem Road. "There are no people, no lights; no bathroom. It's just a road and the desert," he said. "It can be dangerous."

A driver accompanied the activist to transport food, water and medical supplies. At night, Bin Thaneya either slept in the car, in mosques or in abandoned construction sites. His driver didn't turn out to be the best supporter, as he lost his GPS navigator and his sunglasses five days into the trip — essentials when walking in the desert.

He tried to drink about 3.5 litres of water per day. As for his diet, it consisted of canned food, cereal and dates. His worst experience was suffering from food-poisoning after eating some bread with filling. "I couldn't swallow tablets because I was throwing up. So I had to inject myself with antipoison," he said.

He had planned to complete his mission in 23 days but it took him just 14 days to walk the 550 kilometres, walking up to 11 hours every day. Although he has been keeping fit, eating healthy and going to the gym, he said the biggest challenge is mental. "Anyone can be fit in a matter of months. The main thing is to stay fit mentally by reading, asking questions and knowing about the biology of your body and the environment," he said.

His next challenge is to climb to the top of the Burj Khalifa this year. He has been campaigning for this project, which will raise awareness for another centre.

Essential gear

II GPS navigator

II Sunglasses

II Recron wrap

II Windproof jacket II Glow sticks

II Knife

II Torch

II Medicines

II Compass

Sandy challenge

Robh Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, is the world's largest sand desert, spilling across four Arab nations.

The 583,000 square km area is an arid wilderness larger than France.

It holds roughly half as much sand as the Sahara, which is 15 times the Empty Quarter's size, but composed mostly of gravelly plains and rocky outcrops.

To sponsor Jalal Bin Thaneya, go to www.binthaneya.com