Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah supports annual fundraising run

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi attended the RAK Terry Fox Run on Friday

RAS AL KHAIMAH, 22nd February, 2019 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, attended the Terry Fox Run on Friday, a charity race to support caShow more

The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah turned out in support of a fundraising run in aid of cancer research on Friday.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi attended the milestone 10th annual RAK Terry Fox Run, in which more than 4,500 runners took part to raise vital cash and awareness.

A whole host of dignitaries were also present at Al Qawasim Corniche, including Marcy Grossman, the Consul General of Canada and Dr Akima Umezawa, Consul General of Japan.

Mohammed Al Shamsi, a member of the organizing committee for the run, said that the event was a big success.

More than Dh127,000 was donated on the day to cancer research programmes.

The race is named in honour of Terry Fox, a Canadian who was told he had cancer when he was 18. Overcome by the suffering of others around him with the disease, Fox tried to run across Canada, raising money to fund cancer research in hope that a cure would one day be found.

His epic run became known as the Marathon of Hope.

Unable to complete it because of his condition, he died of the disease at 22, leaving behind a legacy that would resonate worldwide.

To keep his memory alive, Terry Fox Runs are organised in cities across the world including in the United Arab Emirates.

The world’s largest one-day fundraiser for cancer research was first held in 1981 and has grown to involve millions of participants in over 60 countries.