Mass Walk For Child Hunger

About 2,000 Dubai residents joined millions of people from around the world in a charity walk to raise funds to end child hunger in impoverished countries.

Organised by the United Nations World Food Programme, participants braved the humid evening and went for a stroll around Za'abeel Park.

Aside from raising money for the UN's Global School Feeding Programme, organisers said the charity walk is also meant to create awareness about the child hunger in various developing countries.

Similar activities were also held in about 100 countries countries including Australia, Italy, Spain, Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, China, New Zealand, Argentina and France.

“It is exciting to be a part of something so big and worthwhile,'' said June Sayon, a Marhaba agent.

“This is my second time at the event and I'm hoping it will be a big success as last year,'' added the 30-year-old Filipino who came with her family.

Like June, Jodi Napper and Fiona Devlin both from Australia, also heard about the event in their office.

“I received an e-mail at work about Walk the World and thought it was a great event to work out,'' said 24-year-old Napper who dragged her friend along.

“I know I'm not much into walking around. I like to sit in one place all day but when Jodi told me about the cause, there's no reason why I shouldn't come here and help people in need,'' said the 25-year-old Devlin.

Faris Mohammad stood among the crowd watching the Dubai Drums perform during the event.

The 23-year-old lifeguard, who hails from Sri Lanka, said he was ‘dazed' from all the excitement.

“This is my first time at the event and I just found out what its purpose is for. It is very heart warming to know that you are walking for a good cause,'' he said.

Mats Persson, WFP's chief representative in the UAE, said this year's response was ‘as great as last year's'.

According Zeina Habib, GCC Region Public Affairs Officer for UNWFP, funds were raised through T-shirt sales that cost Dh35 each.

“There have been a lot of people who supported the walk by purchasing T-shirts and many of them were unable to show up which explains the attending number of people,'' she said.