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Close to 18,000 people head to the Abu Dhabi Corniche for 17th Terry Fox Run

AED267,400 was raised today

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, grandson of His Highness the President of the UAE, and His Excellency Ken Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, inaugurate Run

An AED446,000 cheque presented to UAE University's Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences to fund four local cancer research projects

Abu Dhabi, February 17 2012: His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, grandson of His Highness the President of the UAE, and His Excellency Ken Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, inaugurated the 17th Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi today. Nearly 18,000 people showed up to the Run, including over 70 corporations and 300 volunteers. AED267,400 was raised thanks to the kind donations of companies and the general community as well as t-shirt sales.

H.H Sheikh Khalifa, H.E Ken and the Terry Fox Run Abu Dhabi Committee also presented Professor Frank Branicki, Chair of the Research Committee in the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University with a cheque for AED446,000. This cheque acts the first instalment of an AED2.3 million grant, the funds of which are a result of a collaboration between the Terry Fox Run Abu Dhabi and its Al Ain, Dubai and the Northern Emirates counterparts. The AED2.3 million, which was raised at the annual Runs through donations and t-shirt sales, will go towards funding seven cancer research projects in Al Ain over the next three years. The locally-funded and world-class cancer research projects will then be evaluated in Switzerland and Canada by a team of international oncology researchers.

The joint funding of these seven research projects will bring the total number of projects funded by Terry Fox Runs in the UAE to an impressive 42 projects, at an overall value of close to AED10.1 million. The research, which is evaluated in Switzerland and Canada, is undertaken by UAE-based researchers and scientists and is focused on the needs of citizens and residents of the UAE.

This year, the Terry Fox Run Abu Dhabi attracted the participation of: 36 companies, 17 hotels, 17 schools, 4 banks and 300 volunteers, including Takatof. T-shirts were sold out before the Run even began- with a total of 10,000 being sold to participants and companies. In this year's edition of the Run, the energy levels were unprecedented. The participants continued arriving throughout the course of the day whether to participate in the event or to make donations. The impressive turn-up rate this year has added to the on-going success legacy of the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run with more than 18,000 participants helping to raise AED267,400 today alone.

The Terry Fox Run is also kind to the environment; the Committee works solidly with the Abu Dhabi Municipality and waste management companies to clean up the area and route throughout the event.

-Ends-

About the Abu Dhabi Terry Fox Run:
The Abu Dhabi leg of the Terry Fox Run has been held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Advisor to the President of the UAE, every year since its inception in 1995.

The run is organised by volunteers. All money raised is given to fund world-class, innovative cancer research in cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAE University. The research is being conducted by UAE-based researchers and scientists and focuses on the needs of UAE citizens and residents.

Last year, well over 15,000 people participated in the Abu Dhabi Run and, in total, close to AED 600,000.00 was raised.

Globally to date, over CAN$550 million has been raised worldwide over the past 32 years to fund innovative cancer research. Each country that organises a Run is able to retain the funds raised for innovative local cancer research relevant to the needs of its own society.

For more information, please email: abudhabiterryfoxrun@gmail.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Reem Hafiz
Weber Shandwick
Tel: +971 2 4494457
Fax: +971 2 4494833
reem.hafiz@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2012