Runners to step out for charity
Published: February 10, 2005
Four runners will step out in aid of charity tomorrow, when they take part in the Bahrain Road Runners 27th Bahrain Full Marathon.
Two of the runners, St Christopher’s Infant School special needs teacher Caroline Hamilton and St Christopher’s Junior School French teacher Olga Pereira, are raising money for toys, books and other items, which are needed at a new cancer children’s day room.
The day room, at the newly-built Abdullah Khalil Kanoo Paediatric Oncology Unit at the Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC), will mainly be used by children who are visiting the unit to receive chemotherapy.
Mrs Hamilton has so far raised BD400 for the day room and with the help of Ms Pereira is hoping to raise much more.
“Olga phoned to say she could do some fund-raising for me and so she posted sponsorship forms in the Junior and Senior School,” said Mrs Hamilton, who has been preparing for her debut marathon for the last four months.
“The staff at school have been fantastic and very generous. I had no idea I would be able to raise this much, I thought I might only raise BD50, so I am really thrilled.
“I could definitely get a couple of Playstations, or at least a Playstation and some software and toys, or videos, or books, or stories on tape. I should be able to buy a few things.”
Those wishing to donate money for the children’s day room at the SMC should contact Mrs Hamilton on 39801289.
The other two runners, National Hotel Services Company sales executive Mohammed Idris and Crowne Plaza bellman Mohammed Javed, are raising money for victims of the tsunami disaster, which hit 14 countries on December 26.
Mr Idris and Mr Javed have so far raised BD600, but are still hoping to reach their goal of BD1,000.
“This is the first time we are running for charity and we feel good, it makes it special and we are happy we are doing it. We thank all of the people who have given so far,” said Mr Idris, who lost six family members in the tsunami in his native India.
This will be Mr Idris’ third Bahrain Full Marathon and he is hoping to come in less than three hours.
Mr Javed, who is also Indian, will be running his seventh marathon at the event and is aiming to finish within three hours and 15 minutes.
“We have been training for the last six months and we are almost there,” said Mr Idris.
“I just hope I am able to complete it in three hours, but I’m in good shape, so it’s up to God.”
All money raised will go to an account for tsunamis victims set up by the national committee headed by Bahrain Red Crescent Society deputy chairman Khalil Al Mutawa.
The 42.2-kilometre marathon will start at 6am tomorrow from the Marina Club.
Runners will complete two-laps of route that leads them through Muharraq onto the Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Highway to Juffair and back to the club.
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