As part of its efforts to enhance social inclusion in Abu Dhabi, the Authority of Social Contribution (Ma'an) has partnered with Abu Dhabi Sports Council, to stage the second edition of the ‘At Your Own Pace’ annual run. The event will be held on March 19, on Hudayriyat Island of Abu Dhabi.

Ma’an’s ‘At Your Own Pace’ aims to raise awareness about Abu Dhabi social priorities through an engaging community driven sport event allowing everyone to come together and run for a social cause. Proceeds of the Run will be directed to support social priorities related to senior citizens in Abu Dhabi, in line with the social priorities identified by the Quality-of-Life Survey of the Abu Dhabi's Department of Community Development.

Members of the community regardless of their age ot gender are encouraged to participate in the race, which will follow strict Covid-19 health and safety protocols. Ma’an has also urged private companies to encourage their employees to participate. Those who are interested in taking part at the Run, can register on the following link:
https://www.premieronline.com/event/maan_at_your_own_pace_5838.

Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, expressed his joy in partnering with the Authority for Community Contributions (Ma’an), in organising the running race, which will be held on Al Hudayriat Island, the ideal place to hold sports activities, events and competitions.

Al Awani pointed out that the social-cause-based sport activity is part of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council's plans to support various social works, initiatives and events. The participation also reflects the Council's commitment to making sport a way and a pattern of daily life, in order to improve the quality of life for all members of society, in Abu Dhabi.

The ‘At Your Own Pace’ event falls under Ma'an's Social Investment Fund pillar. The programme is designed to increase social cohesion and encourage participation for a social cause, while also encouraging community members to take part in a physical activity and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Khaled Al Romaithi, Origination Director, Ma’an, said: "We are proud to organize the second edition of ‘At Your Own Pace’ run, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council. For every edition, we commit to adopt a meaningful cause that allows us to support innovative programmes and initiatives that are dealing with the social priorities of Abu Dhabi."

"I would like to invite and encourage every Abu Dhabi community member to join us. The same goes to government and private entities in the emirates who aspire to enhance the positive and sustainable impact of their employees," he added.

"Last year, we generated generous contributions to support saving lives of those who needed organ and tissue donations. This time, we aim to support creating innovative solutions to challenges faced by seniors in our emirate, including a sense of isolation, limited social interactions and availability of roles after retirement, and difficulty in using digital communications technology," he noted.

The race will be held in four categories: 1km, 3km, 5km and 10km, with a 1km wheelchair-friendly lane dedicated to the people of determination and elderly. In all these categories, participants have a choice to move at their own pace. The run starts and finishes near 321Sports, the beachside sporting hub of Hudayriat Island, where the tracks run through the most picturesque areas.

The themes of the run are selected from a range of social priorities identified by the Department of Community Development, with the last year’s race highlighting the Organ and Tissue Donations Programme. More than 500 individuals participated in the event in 2021, with more participants expected to join in this year’s highly anticipated event.