Press Release

7EmiratesRun concludes on National Day raising more than AED1 million for Al Jalila Foundation

The 7EmiratesRun team successfully completed its 575km charity run across the seven emirates in time for National Day celebrations at Dubai Festival City, raising more than AED1 million for Al Jalila Foundation. 7EmiratesRun is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. It was endorsed by Dubai Sports Council as an official event on Dubai’s sports calendar, with Buimerc Corporation as the title sponsor.

The UAE’s only cross-country charity run, which commenced from Abu Dhabi on 21 November, drew support from fellow runners, parents, children and students from across the UAE and raised ten times more in donations than last year, far exceeding its original target. The AED1 million raised will go to Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen fund, which helps patients in the UAE with critical health conditions who cannot afford medical treatment.

Last year Dubai-based runners traversed the seven emirates to raise funds so Mohammed Ayoub, a Sharjah toddler suffering from limb deformities, could get back on his feet. A total of AED 100,000 was raised to fund his surgeries and post-operative care. Today, he is able to walk with prosthetic support. Mohammed and his parents joined the 7EmiratesRun team today at the start line of the last leg from Sharjah to Dubai, in which more than 55 runners participated including male and female Emiratis.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“We congratulate the 7EmiratesRun team on the great success this year’s run has achieved. The level of support from communities and donors across the country was beyond expectation. The money raised for our A’awen fund will be fully dedicated to supporting children with walking disabilities, for a chance to live better and more productive lives. We thank all the sponsors and supporting organisations, donors, volunteers and the 7EmiratesRun team for a unique event celebrating health and philanthropy.”

“As a local foundation entrusted with the development of the UAE’s healthcare sector through medical education and research, Al Jalila Foundation takes this opportunity to extend its warmest wishes on the occasion of the UAE’s 43rd National Day to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers, Their Highnesses members of the UAE Federal Supreme Council, and to the whole UAE community.”

Race Director, Wendelin Lauxen, who is also Managing Director of DHCC-based German Limbtech, said:

“We ran further than the distance between Paris and London, we traversed desert, mountains, passed camels and dhows and we finished! Luckily for us, we have chosen to live in a very beautiful country with a diverse landscape and this epic run is a tribute to the land we each call home.

“I am so proud of our team and all of the UAE for spurring us on – without them I am not sure we would have achieved this for a second time. This year we were joined by an all-ladies relay team and scores of students across the country. At every stage, people around the UAE cheered us on and we are grateful. Thank you and here’s to next year – bigger, better and healthier.”

Major sponsors of the 7EmiratesRun include Dubai Healthcare City, German Limbtech, Damas, Total and Paris Gallery.

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