Registration for Etisalat Dubai Kids' Run begins

Dubai: Under the patronage of Shaikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, registration for the Etisalat Dubai Kids' Run 2015 officially opened to the public today.

The event, to be held on March 20-21 at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre, represents the region's first ever wellness-themed run and fun fair weekend for children.

Promoting healthy living within the region's next generation in a fun and exciting way, the event invites families, friends and children between the ages of 4 and 12 to come together for an action-packed event comprising various runs, exciting nutrition games and activities, interactive shows and community spirit, creating a fun-filled educational experience.

Kick-starting the weekend on March 20, three different runs will take place back to back from 8am onwards. Attendance to the two-day fun fair is free of charge for all from 8am until 6pm. Children wishing to participate in the run are required to register online at etisalatkidsrun.com or on the day, for a fee of Dh100, which includes an Etisalat Dubai Kids’ Run T-shirt, sports bag, water bottle, and medal of achievement.

For ages 4 to 8 years, a 2 km race will allow children to run accompanied by their guardian, while a second race will see 9 to 12 year olds run 2 km unaccompanied, and a third 'wheelie' fun run for 4 to 12 year olds to run alongside family and friends for 3 km.

The aim of the run is to educate children on the importance of healthy eating, proper exercise and the proactive pursuit of wellness. Bringing the entire local community together, the occasion will offer the opportunity to make new friends while enjoying the outdoors.

The event ties in with Etisalat’s strategy to create health awareness and foster community spirit among children. At the same time, it creates a unique platform for the company to engage with kids and parents in a fun and exciting setting.

Fares Hamad Fares, vice-president, Corporate Communications, Etisalat, said: "Technology has become all-pervasive. It is not just adults who are overdoing screen time. Our children are also becoming more and more confined to their rooms and screens, and less interactive and perceptive of their surroundings. Another alarming fact is that childhood obesity is at an all-time high in the UAE."

"Getting kids outside and active is very important for optimal mental and physical development. As a telecom company, it is our responsibility to support such health-centric initiatives and promote living a balanced lifestyle that will benefit our future generations. For all these good reasons and more, Etisalat is delighted to sponsor this wonderful initiative that packages a serious message in a fun way," Fares added.

Other interactive activities available will include a penalty shoot-out, face painting, bouncy castles, educational centres, etc.

For further information or to register for the Etisalat Dubai Kids' Run online, please visit: www.etisalatkidsrun.com.