Al Fajer Properties donates AED150,000 for children with special needs

Two Dubai residents gear up for world's toughest foot race

Dubai, UAE, March 19, 2007: Dubai residents Andrew Chambers and Tony Abdel Ahad are preparing to take part in the toughest foot race in the world later this month to raise money for Al Noor Centre for Children with Special Needs. Dr Shahram Abdullah Zadeh, CEO of Al Fajer Properties on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, President of the Al Fajer Group, has donated AED150,000 to the runners' cause.

Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs is opening a new branch in Al Barsha and needs funds urgently to start operations including the purchase of equipment and to hire specialists, such as teachers, doctors and physiotherapists.

"In line with the corporate social responsibility policies set by His Highness Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum, President of the Al Fajer Group, we are pleased to be given the opportunity to reach out to children with special needs in the UAE," said Dr. Abdullah Zadeh. "These children need special attention and we applaud the dedication of the entire team at Al Noor Centre and the efforts of Andrew and Tony. The Marathon des Sables is an incredible challenge, and our prayers and best wishes are with them."

The Marathon des Sables will run over six days, from March 23 to April 2, in the Moroccan region of the Sahara desert and cover 243 kilometers. Competitors have to trek day and night in the unforgiving climate and terrain of the world's largest desert.

Commenting on why he chose to run the marathon, Andrew Chambers, 54, Managing Director of Asteco, said: "The race is equivalent to more than six standard marathons across desert, and I wanted to prove to myself that I can complete a challenge as massive as that. At the same time of course, we are being motivated by the children at Al Noor."

Isphana Al Khatib, Director of Al Noor Centre received a cheque of AED150,000 on March 15, from Al Fajer Properties. "I take this opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Hasher Al Maktoum for his generosity and caring. The new conference and auditorium facilities at Al Noor will be named 'Al Fajer' owing to the companies support and sponsorship. We hope other corporations will follow suit and lend their support to this noble cause."  

Marathon des Sables runners must carry everything they need for the challenge, including their entire food supply for the week, and face midday temperatures of up to 48 degrees Celsius. Precious bottled water will be distributed each day at checkpoints along the course, nine litres per competitor.

Training for the past 10 months, Chambers and Abdel Ahad say they are confident they will make it to the finish line. Earlier this year, they took part in the Standard Chartered Marathon in Dubai, a light practice session compared to the demands of the Marathon des Sables.

The duo's challenge is supported by sponsors Asteco, the UAE's leading property services company, Al Fajer Properties, Dubai's leading commercial developer, brand and communications agency octOpus and Polaris Public Relations.

Andrew Chambers, Asteco's Managing Director
Andrew has a career in property services and consulting that spans a quarter of a century and circles the globe with experience in property across Hong Kong, China, Thailand, USA, Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, and for the last 5 years in the Middle East.

His current role as MD includes working with major developers on numerous projects and their management across the MENA region.

Tony Abdel Ahad, Asteco's Regional Director
Tony has developed a prominent reputation in the provision of high quality property consultancy and retail services across the Middle East for Asteco and manages Asteco property services across MENA.

-Ends-

Asteco
Founded in Dubai in 1985, Asteco is the UAE's largest property services company. Its services include retail, commercial and residential sales and leasing; strategic consultancy; property management and marketing; feasibility studies and valuations; and research and investment.

Al Fajer Properties
Al Fajer Properties LLC, a unit of Al Fajer Enterprises - a fully nationally owned company was   established in the year 1970, by its group President His Highness Sheikh Hasher Maktoum Al   Maktoum. Al Fajer Enterprises has rapidly grown to a diversified business entity and has set its mission to   deliver extreme satisfaction and high quality service to their vast range of valued clients.

Al Noor Centre
Established in 1981, Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs looks after 220 children from 19 different nationalities, with challenges such as Down's Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and Autism. These are addressed through special education methods, physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

With its professional and effective training programmes, the Centre fulfills the needs of the Special Child from infancy up to functional integration into society. It works under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs but does not receive any official funding. 

For further information, please contact:
Susan George                                                             
Marketing Executive                                                   
Asteco Property Management                                                
Tel: (+9714) 4037733                                                                
Fax: (+9714) 4037833                                                               
Email: SusanG@asteco.com    
                                   
Zahabia Motiwala /Eyad Mohammed
Polaris Public Relations
Dubai, UAE
Tel: (+9714) 3415555
Fax: (+9714) 3415588
Email: z.motiwala@polaris-me.com

© Press Release 2007