Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, announced that the Group will sponsor the 14th Annual Sheikh Zayed Charity Marathon, known as the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K race, in New York in April 2018. The event will take place in Central Park on Sunday 29 April 2018.
The proceeds from the 10 kilometre-run benefit the National Kidney Foundation – a specialised hospital for kidney treatment and research in the United States. The race was founded in 2005 in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the first President and the Founder of the United Arab Emirates, to raise awareness of kidney health and kidney disease.
It marks the third time the Al Habtoor Group has sponsored the Zayed Charity Marathon in New York. “As this year is the Year of Zayed, it is especially important,” Al Habtoor said. “The late Founding Father of UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, laid solid foundations for voluntary and charitable work and left an indelible mark on humanitarian work locally and globally. The marathon is for a great cause in memory of a great leader.''
At a press conference held at the Al Habtoor Group head office on Monday 26 February 2018 Al Habtoor signed the sponsorship agreement with Retired Lt. General Mohammed Halal Al Kaabi, Head of the Organizing Committee.
Al Habtoor added, “The race brings together many different nationalities for a very worthy cause. It also gives us the opportunity to show the people of American some Emirati hospitality."
Al Kaabi praised Al Habtoor for setting a shining example to many people by generously giving to causes both at home and abroad.
He said that registration for this year’s event has hit a record. In 2017, the event attracted nearly 30,000 runners, making it one of the top 10 marathons in the world.
To date the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K marathon has raised $165 million to support kidney patients.
A $30,000 Zayed Bonus, courtesy of the Embassy of the UAE in honour of Sheikh Zayed, will be given to the first man to break 27:35 (a record set in 2011) and/or the first woman to break 30:44 (a record set in 2002).