The capital’s residents will be racing to cure cancer this month at the annual Terry Fox Run.
The Terry Fox Run is an international non-competitive event that plays a huge role in raising cancer awareness and providing essential funds that contribute to global cancer research.
Inspired by Canadian teenager Terry Fox, the annual run is now an internationally renowned event. Diagnosed with bone cancer at just 18 years old, Fox’s knee was amputated in 1977. Motivated by fellow cancer patients, the youngster decided to run across the full width of Canada to raise funds for cancer research. He called his journey the Marathon of Hope. Sadly, Fox lost his fight to cancer midway through after cancer spread to his lungs. Today, his legacy continues with dedicated and inspired ‘fun runs’ held all over the world.
The capital’s instalment will see four UAE-based medical professionals handed their final funding for vital cancer research projects. The projects, which are conducted at different universities, hospitals and medical institutes across the country are valued at a total of
AED 1,189,000. They cover a wide range of treatment methodologies and research including overcoming resistance to cancer treatment drugs, the role of anti-inflammatories in preventing cancer cell growth and the effects of various genetic factors on cancer progression.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cancer claims the lives of 7.6 million people every year, of which 4 million die prematurely (aged 30 to 69 years). Research has suggested that one-third of cancer deaths could be avoided through education and addressing modifiable risk factors including tobacco use, excessive sun exposure and lack of physical activity.
The Abu Dhabi edition is held under the patronage of HE Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, advisor to HH President Sheikh Khalifa. Since the first Terry Fox Run in the capital in 1994, AED 15 million has been raised, financing 42 cancer research projects in the country. The 8.5km Terry Fox Run in Abu Dhabi will take place on 21st February from the Fanzone at the Corniche to the Corniche Hospital and back. Participants are welcome to walk, run, roller-blade or skateboard and the course is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers. T-shirts will be sold on the day and donations are encouraged. Registration will open at 7am and the run begins at 10am. To find out more, visit: www.facebook.com/AbuDhabiTerryFoxRun
