Over 40 of Marriott International’s properties in the UAE will come together to ‘Walk the City’ in support of Al Jalila Foundation’s paediatric program ‘Farah’ which provides life-saving treatment, funds cutting edge research and offers hope to countless children and families. ‘Walk the City’ will see over a thousand participants descend to the streets to participate in four charitable runs or walks across Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The initiative will take place on Saturday, 26 October 2019 during this year’s Dubai Fitness Challenge, which aims to transform Dubai into the most active city in the world.
Marriott’s properties welcome members of the local community to join in one of its UAE runs or walks:
- #RunTheCreek – meet at the Sheraton Creek Hotel & Towers at 8am for a run (2.5km, 5km or 10 Km) across the Dubai Creek.
- #MarchTheMarina – meet at the Grosvenor House at 10am for a 10km walk across the Marina.
- #CruiseTheCanal – meet at the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel at 2pm for a 10km walk on the Dubai Water Canal.
- #SharjahToAjman –meet at the Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa at 4pm for a 4km walk to Ajman Saray.
To join any of the four events, participants would need to pay a registration fee of AED 100 per person which will go to the Al Jalila Foundation. Each participant will receive a T-shirt on the day with food and beverage provided.
To register, please contact heidi.reyes@marriott.com.
“We are always looking for new and exciting ways to engage our teams and the community in supporting charitable causes. ‘Walk the City’ is the latest addition to our fundraising activities designed to appeal to all abilities. Through ‘Walk the City’, we also aim to support mass sporting participation in the Dubai Fitness Challenge by encouraging walkers to give back to children in need while keeping fit. We welcome members of the local community to join in the fun on October 26th – and we look forward to seeing you there,” said Guido de Wilde, Chief Operating Officer of Marriott International in the Middle East.
The ‘Walk the City’ initiative supports the 12th edition of Road to Awareness – Marriott International’s annual associate fundraising campaign that has been making a valuable difference to the lives of children for over a decade across the Middle East & Africa. Every year, through Road to Awareness, associates across the Middle East and Africa organize fundraising events to support the vital work charities and organizations, such as medical, rehabilitative, educational, and therapeutic, to improve the lives of children. In the UAE, the campaign supports Al Jalila Foundation.
Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer, Al Jalila Foundation commented, “We are proud of our longstanding collaboration with Marriott International who is a proven leader in employee-led fundraising initiatives through ‘Road to Awareness’. The exemplary program encourages employee wellness through innovative sports events, cultivates a culture of giving in the hospitality industry and inspires the community to support Al Jalila Foundation’s healthcare programs. The Dubai Fitness Challenge is a city-wide movement and Marriott is using this platform to amplify its philanthropic impact to improve the lives of sick children. Participants in ‘Walk the City’ have the opportunity to dedicate their #Dubai30x30 and make a difference with each step.”
The Road to Awareness campaign falls under Marriott International’s Sustainability and Social Impact Platform, Serve 360: “Doing Good in Every Direction”, which guides how the company makes a positive and sustainable impact wherever it does business.
“Through our Road to Awareness initiative we have been making a valuable difference to the lives of children across the region and this has been driven by our passion and a desire to give back to the communities in which we operate,” de Wilde added.
