Ras Al Khaimah, March 5, 2010 (WAM) - Hundreds of people, from babies in strollers to children in fancy costumes, families and veteran runners, took to the streets to celebrate the indomitable human spirit that defines the legacy of Terry Fox in the first annual RAK Terry Fox Run held at the Al Qawasim Corniche in Ras Al Khaimah today.

H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, along with H.E. Kenneth Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, fired the starting horn setting the runners off on the separate 5- km and 3- km runs held as part of the event. According to the organizers, more than 500 people participated in the run and many more taking part in the event as spectators and volunteers.

The event started off with the pre-run warm up to motivate the runners and was followed by a march by the members of the RAK Police music who played their tunes. People wearing T-shirts with the portrait of Terry Fox ran, cycled, jogged and skateboarded in the non- competitive event held to raise money for cancer research. The funds collected from the RAK event would be donated to the UAE University Hospital in Al Ain where a number of ongoing and impressive cancer research projects are being conducted.

H.E. Kenneth Lewis, Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, who personally took part in the run, said that he was very much impressed by the success of the RAK Terry Fox Run. "I have taken part in Terry Fox runs in six different countries and am very impressed with the level of participation and the community spirit witnessed in RAK today.""The very strong popular support for the Terry Fox runs in the UAE indicates the desire of the people to fight a terrible disease that affects so many people and the strong sense of community to rally for a good cause. Its also glad to note that there is world- class cancer research currently going on in the UAE University in Al Ain," H.E. Kris Panday, Canadian Consul General in Dubai said.

The annual Terry Fox runs held across the world takes forward the mission of Terry Fox, who became an enduring global icon as he attempted to run across Canada in 1980 after losing a leg to bone cancer, to raise funds for cancer research. Sadly, Terry's bone cancer returned during his run and he died shortly after at the age of just 22.

"Its a great experience to represent my country in the Terry Fox Run in Ras Al Khaimah. I have run the race in Canada. It is really good to see so many people running in RAK in the first year. Hopefully the message will spread and we will have more people running next year and of course raising more money," said Gerry Gibson, Business Instructor at the RAK Womens College said.

"We all are very excited that RAK has joined the list of places hosting the Terry Fox Run. It would help a great deal to create awareness about the disease and gives people an opportunity to contribute their small bit in mankinds fight against cancer, said Maricar Marquez from Philippines who works at the RAK Hospital and ran the 3- km stretch with her friends in the event.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2010.