Sharjah, February 21, 2020: Under the theme “Time to Work”, the 8th annual charity marathon, organized by the Friends of Arthritis Patients Society (FOAP) of the Health Education Department at the Supreme Council for Family Affairs (SCFA), will kick off tomorrow Saturday at 3:00 pm along Al Mamzar beach until Al Qasba Roundabout in Sharjah.

The event aims to raise community awareness of arthritis, encourage sports and physical activity, and shed light on the innovative community initiatives organized by FOAP to enhance awareness of health and sports activities, and to mobilize support for patients with arthritis to help them enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

The 8th annual marathon is sponsored by Sharjah Sports Council and supported by the Sharjah Labor Standards Development Authority, Fast Building Contracting LLC, and Sharjah Cooperative Society.

A new category has been introduced to the event 'Doctors and Specialists Category ', with the aim of reducing distances between patients and their doctors and benefiting from their opinions and consultations.

A number of local club players and athletes will take part in this important community event.

Financial and Moral Support
The event will include organizing many sports, educational and recreational activities, with the aim of providing moral support, guidance, and advice to the participants and to encourage them to engage in physical activity and exercise. 
Awareness-raising health leaflets will be handed out, in addition to providing free medical examinations for the participants.

Additionally, FOAP will seize this opportunity to garner support for fundraising to pursue its path to provide treatment for arthritis patients and support them for a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Marathon Stages 
The participants will run for 6 km divided into four categories according to their ages and motor abilities.
The one-km walking category is dedicated to all ages and groups.

Another one-km run category is dedicated to children aged 7 – 13 years.
The 3.5-km running category is dedicated to those from 14 to 18 years old.
The fourth category will span over 6 kilometers and is targeting the participants from 19 to 99 years old.
Winners in various categories will be honored, in addition to presenting in-kind and cash prizes.

Worth mentioning that the annual charity marathon is one of the largest community sports events, thanks to its success in attracting thousands of participants and volunteers. Last year’s event saw the participation of more than 7000 individuals of different ages and nationalities. It’s also a perfect opportunity to highlight the community initiatives organized by the Emirate of Sharjah, which bring together health, humanitarian and sports aspects. 
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