Walkathon raises money for children

A walkathon to raise money for the children of Palestine is to be held at Al Qasba in Sharjah on Friday as part of the tourism centre's community efforts.

The 'Share the Light' walk is being hosted by Al Qasba in association with the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), the UAE Red Crescent and the Higher Colleges of Technology in Sharjah.

"This event is part of our corporate strategy to involve ourselves more actively with the local community and the huge expatriate community that lives in the UAE," said Zainab Ahmed, Al Qasba's Corporate Social Responsibilities Co-ordinator.

"Last week, we had a charity drive for the people of Haiti and we collected a lot of food, clothes, blankets and money. Now, we are holding this walk to help the children of Palestine as each day we hear so much about their sufferings.

"Until now, we have held charity drives during Ramadan but now we want to do more and will try and hold one charity drive every three months."

"We are planning to do something for Earth Hour on March 27 and after that, we have something lined up in April to boost awareness of autism," she said. The walkathon will start at 5pm and people of all ages and nationalities are being encouraged to take part. Participants will cross the Al Qasba bridge and walk along the marina before circling back to the main complex as the sun sets.

"We have so far distributed more than 600 registration forms and expect at least 1,000 people to take part," added Ahmed. "All fees and donations will go directly to aid charities. For children below 12, the fee is Dh15, for adults it is Dh30, and there is a Dh20 group package for a minimum of 10 people. Participants will receive the official 'Share the Light' walkathon T-shirt when they register," she said.

Illuminated red balloons will guide walkers along the route – red is one of Palestine's national colours and also symbolises love and aid. The theme of reconstruction will be emphasised during the evening's workshops and activities. Activities will include earth management, flower arrangement and jewellery workshops, face painting and onstage activities.

The funds collected will be channelled to children through the UAE Red Crescent and PCRF, a non-profit organisation established in 1991 to deal with the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youth. "The walkathon is an opportunity for us to partner once again with these aid organisations and we are all very excited about it," she said.

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