The 7EmiratesRun team successfully completed its 575km charity run across the seven emirates in time for National Day celebrations at Dubai Festival City, raising more than AED1 million for Al Jalila Foundation. 7EmiratesRun is under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. It was endorsed by Dubai Sports Council as an official event on Dubai’s sports calendar, with Buimerc Corporation as the title sponsor.

The UAE’s only cross-country charity run, which commenced from Abu Dhabi on 21 November, drew support from fellow runners, parents, children and students from across the UAE and raised ten times more in donations than last year, far exceeding its original target. The AED1 million raised will go to Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen fund, which helps patients in the UAE with critical health conditions who cannot afford medical treatment.

Last year Dubai-based runners traversed the seven emirates to raise funds so Mohammed Ayoub, a Sharjah toddler suffering from limb deformities, could get back on his feet. A total of AED 100,000 was raised to fund his surgeries and post-operative care. Today, he is able to walk with prosthetic support. Mohammed and his parents joined the 7EmiratesRun team today at the start line of the last leg from Sharjah to Dubai, in which more than 55 runners participated including male and female Emiratis.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“We congratulate the 7EmiratesRun team on the great success this year’s run has achieved. The level of support from communities and donors across the country was beyond expectation. The money raised for our A’awen fund will be fully dedicated to supporting children with walking disabilities, for a chance to live better and more productive lives. We thank all the sponsors and supporting organisations, donors, volunteers and the 7EmiratesRun team for a unique event celebrating health and philanthropy.”

“As a local foundation entrusted with the development of the UAE’s healthcare sector through medical education and research, Al Jalila Foundation takes this opportunity to extend its warmest wishes on the occasion of the UAE’s 43rd National Day to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, their brothers, Their Highnesses members of the UAE Federal Supreme Council, and to the whole UAE community.”

Race Director, Wendelin Lauxen, who is also Managing Director of DHCC-based German Limbtech, said:

“We ran further than the distance between Paris and London, we traversed desert, mountains, passed camels and dhows and we finished! Luckily for us, we have chosen to live in a very beautiful country with a diverse landscape and this epic run is a tribute to the land we each call home.

“I am so proud of our team and all of the UAE for spurring us on – without them I am not sure we would have achieved this for a second time. This year we were joined by an all-ladies relay team and scores of students across the country. At every stage, people around the UAE cheered us on and we are grateful. Thank you and here’s to next year – bigger, better and healthier.”

Major sponsors of the 7EmiratesRun include Dubai Healthcare City, German Limbtech, Damas, Total and Paris Gallery.

Dubai, UAE, 24 April 2014 – Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, today hosted Destination Medicine, an interactive student conference to inspire 400 Emirati students to pursue a career in medicine.

• Student conference welcomes keynote speaker, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, leading international heart surgeon
• Destination Medicine brings together students from 20 private and government schools; 15 medical facilities across DHCC specialities welcome students

Emirati students from grade nine to 12 from both private and government schools had the opportunity to meet keynote speaker and award-winning international heart surgeon, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub. Sir Magdi, who has established the largest heart and lung transplantation programme in the world where more than 2,500 transplant operations have been performed, shared his inspirational journey with the students.

The conference took place at the Mohamed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre, in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a health and wellness destination that brings together a wealth of services in healthcare, medical education and research, and was attended by representatives of UAE schools and universities, as well as DHCC business partners and officials from Al Jalila Foundation and DHCC.

As part of the mentoring programme, students toured 15 DHCC medical facilities covering a range of specialities; students interacted with healthcare professionals – through workshops and activities – to gain insight into the demands of the medical profession.

Her Excellency Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said:

“Our visionary leadership continues to pave the way for young Emiratis, not only to study medicine at world-leading organisations, but also to thrive in the sector with the support of local guidance and state-of-the-art infrastructure. Destination Medicine has helped expose the students first-hand to the world of medicine. We hope that it has inspired them to become doctors and have the chance to save lives and give back to their community.”

Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub commented:

“With ambition and determination, the UAE is on the path to be a leader in medical innovation. The opportunities that the UAE has provided its youth are impressive, and I hope that this experience will instil in them a spirit of discovery in medicine. I commend Al Jalila Foundation’s efforts in supporting the local medical talent though grants and scholarships; enabling young minds to transform the future of healthcare in the UAE.”

Addressing Emirati students at the event, Sir Magdi added:

“You are the future of healthcare!”

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation stated:

“Al Jalila Foundation aims to inspire the UAE’s future doctors. Through our post-graduate medical scholarships, the development of the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre and our fellowship and research grants, we hope to develop a generation of home-grown medical professionals who will lead the nation’s healthcare sector for years to come.”

Marwan Abedin, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Healthcare City, and member of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, said,

“To build a sustainable healthcare industry, we require a national workforce – one that is aligned with the regional healthcare challenges and works to address these. In context, welcoming students to an environment like Dubai Healthcare City, which represents healthcare, medical education and research, is an opportunity to encourage young minds to think about a wide choice of career options in medicine.”

Al Jalila Foundation has started receiving applications for its post-graduate medical scholarships programme for the 2014/2015 academic year. The application deadline is 15 August 2014. For more information visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae or e-mail scholarships@aljalilafoundation.ae.