ABU DHABI, 17th February, 2023 (WAM) -- Registration is open for the second annual "Reaching the Last Mile" charity run, an event hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council to support the UAE-based Reach Campaign to raise awareness and funds and combat neglected tropical diseases.

The run will be held on 18th February at Yas Bay Waterfront in Abu Dhabi, and is open to participants of all ages and fitness levels, with 1k, 3k, 5k and 10k routes to choose from. The event is expected to attract a mix of individuals, teams, and families.

Entry for the run costs AED57.75 and includes a branded T-shirt, individual medals and photos for each participant, and a winners' ceremony.

All donations from the event will go to benefit The Reach Campaign, a fundraising initiative working to eliminate two neglected tropical diseases (NTDs): river blindness and lymphatic filariasis.

NTDs are a group of communicable diseases that are preventable and treatable, yet continue to affect one in five people worldwide, including one billion children. The diseases cause immeasurable sufferings such as blindness, debilitating, disfigurement, and may lead to death. By most commonly affecting vulnerable and marginalised populations, NTDs create cycles of poverty and cost developing nations billions of dollars each year.

More than 200 million people worldwide require treatment for river blindness, while an estimated 850 million people are at risk of lymphatic filariasis.

Suhail Al-Arifi, Executive Director of the Events Sector at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said that the campaign will not only encourage people of all ages and abilities across Abu Dhabi to get active, but will also aid in the elimination of two neglected tropical diseases.

"The run is a reminder of our responsibility to support the less fortunate worldwide. We are committed to activating local communities in support of worthy causes and to helping further the efforts of Reaching the Last Mile Fund," he noted.

Nassar Al Mubarak, Managing Director of The Reach Campaign, said, "We're delighted to see the return of the Reaching the Last Mile charity run, and we are deeply grateful to Abu Dhabi Sports Council for its continued partnership and support. This event reflects the UAE community's generosity and our shared, long-standing commitment to ending neglected tropical diseases. We encourage people to join us, get active, and support a cause that contributes to creating a healthier, brighter future for millions worldwide."

To register for the charity run, please visit https://adsc.ae/en/events/rlm-2023/.