Abu Dhabi to celebrate 13th annual Terry Fox Run

The money raised from the Run will be donated for cancer research in the UAE.

The 13th TFR will be hosted by Her Excellency Sara Hradecky, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, with all the money raised given to the Faculty of Medicine in the UAE University to fund innovative cancer research projects headed by UAE medical professionals.

"Thanks to the support of HE Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan and HE Sara Hradecky, and of the Run's supporters, volunteers and Abu Dhabi residents over the years, we have funded more than Dhs1.5m for cancer research projects here in the UAE, and many more proposals in the final stages of the approval process," said Farid Dabaghi, Chair of the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run Committee.

"Last year's run saw 8,000 people participate and close to Dhs425,000 raised, and we are hoping to make this year's run an even bigger success."

To date, the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run Committee has raised close to Dhs3m since its first Run in 1995. Research projects that have been funded include: "Biomakers of cancer initiation and promotion", "Development of a delivery system for anti-cancer polypeptide drugs to target into the cells", "Molelcular profiling of leukemic cells", "Familial and psychological aspects of paediatric cancer", to name a few.

The open-for-all Run will kick off from the parking lot behind the Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort to the Khaleej Al Arabi road and back. People can walk, run, roller-blade or skateboard, and the course is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. Regrettably, cycling will not be permitted due to safety precautions. Registration begins at 8am and the event will start at 10am. Participants are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy live musical entertainment and a quick cardio warm up prior to the run. Terry Fox T-shirts will be on sale, as well as sandwiches and beverages donated by a number of the capital's hotels and café establishments.