Doha, Qatar - 7 February 2014

Families from across Qatar took the opportunity to enjoy a fantastic day of free entertainment at the 7th Wheels 'n' Heels Family Fun Day on Friday, supported by Flagship Sponsor Maersk Oil and Strategic Partner Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF).

Organized by Qatar's leading education and humanitarian NGO Reach Out To Asia (ROTA), Wheels 'n' Heels 2014 at the Museum of Islamic Art Park delivered eight hours of exciting activities for the whole family.

The fun started at 2 p.m. as the Wheels 'n' Heels Action Zones burst into life with lots of activities going on around the Museum of Islamic Art Park.

Children loved the Kids Zone with its interactive arts space; skills based competitions, bouncy castle, stilt walkers, sports and fitness activities, and much more, while the youngsters enjoyed a thrilling Wheels 'n' Heels Fun Day with their favorite celebrities.

"It's a real thrill for ROTA to be hosting once again Qatar's largest annual community event of the year," said ROTA Executive Director Mr. Essa Al Mannai. "It was great to see adults and children of all nationalities enjoying Wheels 'n' Heels and discovering how exercise and living a healthy lifestyle can be such great fun. ROTA is proud of bringing together thousands of people who came along to enjoy all the entertainment and help with providing quality education to 48 million children in need across Asia."

Music fans flocked to the Wheels 'n' Heels Stage to enjoy performances by UAE singer Shama Hamdan, the first Emirati woman to make it to the finals of the hit reality show Arabs Got Talent. The audience enjoyed a spectacular stage program with a stunning performance by Jordanian music sensation, Diana Karazon, winner of the first ever Super Star television series, while young participants enjoyed meeting popular Baraem Children's Channel presenters Ahmed Al Mulla and Jihan Arsanious, masters of the ceremony of the event. Al Jazeera presenter Khadija bin Kena's presence at the event added more color to the list of celebrities.

Sports fans got to meet their sporting heroes and had their photo taken along with autographs from sports icons, Mahmoud and Abdullah Bo Shri (Kuwait), rally racer Nada Zeidan (Qatar), and teenage swimming sensation Nada Mohamed Arakji (Qatar).

Being involved in the action is all part of the Wheels 'n' Heels experience and hundreds grasped the opportunity to tackle the Wheels n Heels Circuit, the longer since the event started in 2006, by jogging, skateboarding, walking and cycling round the Museum of Islamic Art Park to raise funds for ROTA's local and international education projects. Special thanks go to Ooredoo for their generous decision to offer free bicycle rents and handing a cheque donation of 150.000 QR on stage to support ROTA's future projects.

The Wheels 'n' Heels Food Zone fuelled the passion for community celebration and active lifestyle by providing a selection of tasty, healthy snacks and drinks throughout the day. Attendees enjoyed 100% healthy refreshments throughout the day and got loaded with the amazing taste of the most natural made Qatari ice-cream and popcorn. Eight food vendors also served all participants with healthy refreshments and munchies promoting the ideal combination of sports and light food for a perfect lifestyle: : The One, Nando's, Subway, Salad Boutique, Dune Catering, Gharissa Arabian Ice Cream, Dippingo and Let's popcorn.

Those with energy to spare had a chance to join Aspire and Qatar Cycling Federation who brought hours of fitness activities and wicked sports fun for the whole family, while those looking to have divine peace and meditation, headed for the Yogasha- a center for counseling and yoga to have Yoga sessions and tips on how to use yoga for a better life.

Girls staff from the ASPIRE Academy Multi-sport Skill Development Programme (MSSD) offered visitors the chance to learn to cycle. With bicycles on loan from the Qatar Cycling Federation and MIA, the MSDD coaches were on hand to loan bikes for a ride along the Corniche, and taught them how to ride on two wheels.

The MSSD program helps boys and girls develop and improve their core skills for a range of sports activities. The program is delivered by experienced and skilled coaches and aims to give young people a positive experience of sport and help those who have ability to take the next steps towards becoming a top-flight performer, perhaps even to be offered a place at the prestigious ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence, where boys will receive top class coaching and sport science support as they strive to be the best that they can be. MSSD delivers free after-school multi-sport coaching sessions at a number of venues across Qatar.

Everyone looking to live a safer lifestyle checked out the Slim N Lite booth. Three qualified dietitians from Slim N Lite provided visitors a thorough nutritional assessment session and offered important tips and advice for a healthier life style.

"Action on Diabetes" village representatives provided free health advice and checks, while the Childhood Cultural Centre delivered books, arts and crafts materials to Wheels 'n'Heels 2014.

Qatar National Cancer Society and Hamad Medical Corporation profited from the community event to spread awareness on Cancer and other diseases and the social actions in this regard, whereas Qatar Orphan Foundation- Dhreima shared the foundation's activities with all interested participants.

At the Qatar university booth, students gathered to enjoy the games running by the institution while sporty people joined Green Life booth which promoted the importance of physical exercise and nutrition.

Meanwhile, ROTA launched an SMS donation campaign. Those who wish to contribute towards ROTA's charitable cause, can do so by sending an SMS of the word "WnH" to 92678. A donation amount of QAR10 will then be deducted from the donor's mobile balance.

 "It was great to once again welcome the families of Qatar for a day of fun at Wheels 'n' Heels," added Essa Al Mannai. "Thousands of people came along to enjoy all the entertainment. With the help of sponsor Maersk Oil, strategic partner Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF), an all dedicated partners; ASPIRE, Child Culture Centre (CCC), Oreedoo, Qatar National Cancer Society, Qatar Orphan Foundation- Dhreima, Qatar Olympic Committee QOC, Qatar University, Green Life, Qatar Brazil 2014, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Qatar Bikes, Slim N Lite, and Qatar Football Association, ROTA made this event the best ever Wheels 'n' Heels!"

For more news, photos and videos from Wheels 'n' Heels 2014, visit www.reachouttoasia.org or www.facebook.com/reachouttoasia

-Ends-

About ROTA
Reach Out To Asia is a non-profit organization launched in December 2005 in Doha, Qatar, by Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Operating under the auspices of the Qatar Foundation, ROTA is committed to providing high quality and relevant primary and secondary education, encouraging relationships among communities, creating safe learning environments and restoring education in crisis affected areas across Asia and around the world. ROTA envisions a world, where all young people have access to the education they need in order for them to realize their full potential and shape the development of their communities.

Further information on Reach Out To Asia can be found at www.reachouttoasia.org

About Qatar Foundation
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people. The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City. A fourteen million square-metre campus, Education City is home to numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge science and technology park. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in 'Education, Science and Technology and Community Health and Development'.

About Maersk Oil Qatar
Maersk Oil is an international oil and gas company with operated production of about 625,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from Denmark, UK, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Brazil. Exploration activities are ongoing in Angola, Norway, the US Gulf of Mexico, Kurdistan, Greenland and in the producing countries. Maersk Oil focuses on pioneering technologies and harnessing talent to continue to operate safely and successfully, creating value for partners and host governments. Maersk Oil and its subsidiary companies are part of the Danish A.P. Moller - Maersk Group.

Maersk Oil entered into an Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA) with Qatar Petroleum (QP) in 1992. Maersk Oil produced first oil two years later and now produces 300,000 barrels per day, over a third of Qatar's total oil output.

For more information about Maersk Oil, please visit our website at www.maerskoil.com  

For further information please contact:
Denise Yamine Chouity
Account Manager - PR
GREY Doha, Qatar
Telephone:
Email: denise.yamine@greydoha.com

© Press Release 2014