AJMAN // Motorcyclists took 20 teenage orphans from Dubai to Ajman on Friday to raise money for a childrens’ charity.
The Al Ihsan Charity Association and the motorcycle group UAE Riders collaborated to organise Pure Wildness, a fund-raising event for the 800 orphans under the charity’s care.
The 45-strong motorcade made its way Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai to Ajman and the palace of Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, who is known as the Green Sheikh because of his passion for the environment.
Sheikh Abdul Aziz, the secretary general of Al Ihsan Charity Association, said: “The purpose of this event is to have real fun, but fun with a purpose.
“The purpose is not just recognising an event, it is about people and appreciating people, orphans, bikers and the law here in the UAE. The whole concept is about appreciation.
“The other thing is those orphans who lost their fathers, so they at least appreciate having somebody to hug, and to feel secure with,” he said.
“And the riders have responsibility of fatherhood, family and the law and have somebody to take care of, so the match [between them] is fatherhood.”
Sheikh Abdul Aziz wanted to the country to know about motorbike riding, the men and women who enjoy it and the community values they share.
“Driving a bike is a freedom. You feel freedom and everyone who drives bikes feels like he wants to fly,” Sheikh Abdul Aziz said.
“This [idea for the road trip] came to mind because a lot of people don’t know about the Riders, and I want to let Emirati society understand who they are.”
Waleid Al Raeesri, an Emirati police officer and president of the Riders, said: “Orphans are not orphans, they are our kids. I felt that I was holding a son behind me, and we were in another world on the road.”
The 37-year-old added that Friday’s trip was first time that the organisation had participated in an event for orphans.
Rashed Mohammed, committee member of the Riders and an engineer by profession, said that Sheikh Abdul Aziz communicated directly with him through social media to organise the idea of riding with the youngsters across the emirates.
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