Abu Dhabi: Charity run against neglected tropical diseases – News

The second ‘Reaching the Last Mile’ charity run will be held at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Bay waterfront on Saturday

The second annual Reaching the Last Mile charity run will be held on Saturday at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Bay waterfront to raise awareness and funds for neglected tropical diseases.

Organized by the UAE-based Reach Campaign and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the run is open to participants of all ages and fitness levels, with 1km, 3km, 5km and 10km routes to choose from.

Entry to the run is AED 57.75 and includes a branded t-shirt, individual medals and photos for each runner, plus an award ceremony. Community events are expected to engage individuals, teams and families.

All donations from the event will go to the Reach Campaign, a fundraising effort to eliminate two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs): river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

“Not only will this campaign encourage active participation by people of all ages and abilities in Abu Dhabi, but it will also contribute to the elimination of two neglected tropical diseases,” said Suhail Al-Arifi, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi’s Sports Events Sector. Council.

NTDs are a group of preventable and treatable infectious diseases that still affect one-fifth of the world’s population, including 1 billion children. NTDs cause immeasurable suffering – they can blind, debilitate, disfigure, and possibly kill. NTDs most commonly affect vulnerable and marginalized populations, creating a cycle of poverty that costs developing countries billions of dollars each year.

“The run reminds us of our responsibility to support the less fortunate around the world. We are committed to activating local communities to support worthy causes and helping further efforts to reach the last mile fund,” said Al-Arifi.

Worldwide, more than 200 million people require treatment for river blindness, while an estimated 850 million people are at risk of lymphatic filariasis.

Nassar Al Mubarak, Managing Director of the Reach Campaign, said: “This campaign reflects both the generosity of the UAE community and our shared long-term commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases. We encourage people to join us in getting involved and supporting a Help create healthier, brighter futures for millions of people around the world.”

The charity run starts at 8am. To register visit: https://adsc.ae/en/events/rlm-2023/ or https://www.premieronline.com/event/reaching_the_last_mile_run_6276