Emirati to walk to Makkah for special needs children

Dubai: Emirati Jalal Bin Theniyah is taking his humanitarian mission to the next level. Bin Theniyah plans to undertake a 2,000km walk for charity to Makkah with the aim of raising funds for children with special needs.

The 25-year-old has successfully undertaken extreme missions in the past — a 600km walk across the UAE, a vertical marathon wherein he climbed 2775 floors of skyscrapers in 12 days and another 550km journey to the Empty Quarter — all for the welfare of children with special needs.

"I plan to start this journey to Makkah by... December and aim to complete it within 30-35 days. My mission is to contribute for the benefit of children with special needs, who, I feel, are under-represented," Bin Theniyah told Gulf News.

The walk to Makkah is of special significance to him. He has been planning it for almost four years.

"I want to recreate the journeys that my ancestors took. I get great inspiration when I look at pictures of Shaikh Zayed or Shaikh Rashid, who experienced nature and learnt about the harshness of life, I also want to feel that harshness and learn about life," Bin Theniyah said. "And combining this sentiment with the mission holds immense value to me."

The mission this time, of covering 2,000km by foot, could be much tougher, but that is hardly a deterrent as "the real fuel is mental faith", he said.

"I do make efforts to stay physically fit — I do not smoke or consume carbonated beverages, do not eat preserved foods and stick to organic foodstuff. I also workout regularly. But I would say that is a healthy person's lifestyle and there are a lot of physically fit people I know, they are even fitter than I am. But it's the mind that plays the major role."

Bin Theniyah plans to cover 60-65km every day during his month-long journey.

"This would require managing the logistics, which includes special equipment, clothing [and] transport, so that we can keep track of it — for which I am looking for sponsors," Bin Theniyah said.

Encouraging response

"The previous missions evoked a very encouraging response and whatever funds are raised would directly go toward the organisations for special kids which I raise awareness about," he said.

Once the sponsor is decided, the funds are directly chanelled to the concerned organisation for children. Each day will encompass walking and more walking and "sleeping where I get shelter, or in the vehicle that keeps track of me, if it is around".

"My previous walks have taught me a lot. I got to see things I probably would never have seen earlier — enormous dunes, the size of buildings, seemingly unending stretches of desert, and also the beauty of nature, [and the] moon in all it glory. The experiences will be helpful and I am sure there will be new ones too."

Extreme missions: Early starter

Jalal Bin Theniya started undertaking extreme missions requiring physical endurance at the age of 20 when he completed a 600km journey across the UAE and raised funds for the Dubai Autism Centre. He became the first person to walk around the UAE in 2007.

In 2008, he climbed around 90,000 steps and 2,775 floors of Dubai's skyscrapers in 12 days for Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre (RPTC). He became the first man to scale 100 towers in 12 days.

In 2009, he undertook a 550km journey to the Empty Quarter from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Hamim, Liwa then to the Empty Quarter (Robh Al Khali) and ending at Umm Al Husn and raised funds for the Senses Centre.