Abu Dhabi’s Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) will be participating in the 11th UAE Healthy Kidney 10K run in New York City’s famous Central Park on May 30 to promote education and awareness of kidney health and kidney disease.

TCA Abu Dhabi will also join its US office and other race sponsors to organise a post-race festival, which will include live music, prize giveaways, sponsor tents, as well as some more UAE-specific delights such as free dates for attendees.

TCA Abu Dhabi will also have in attendance for participants a henna artist dispensing traditional body art, an Arabic calligrapher who will be writing attendees’ names in Arabic, as well as saluki dog and trainer.

Last year’s race welcomed nearly 8,000 runners whose participation was a tribute to the excellence of American medical institutions in the research and treatment of kidney disease. But as well as raising money for such a worthy cause as the National Kidney Foundation, there is added incentive for runners, with a prize of $30,000 potentially up for grabs.

The $30,000 Zayed Bonus, courtesy of the embassy of the UAE and in honour of former UAE president Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, will be given to the first man to beat the time of 27:35 (the record held at the moment by Leonard Patrick Komon in the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K in 2011) and/or the first woman to break 30:44 (the record currently held by Lornah Kiplagat, who clocked the time at the New York Mini 10K in 2002).

“We are once again very proud to be involved with the UAE Healthy Kidney 10K in New York City,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, director of promotion and overseas offices, TCA Abu Dhabi. “The event raises vital awareness about the dangers of kidney disease and promotes kidney health and we hope that our efforts to make the event more than just a fun run for participants helps get across this vital message.

“The addition of the Zayed bonus is one more way for us to highlight the importance of keeping your kidneys healthy, and we anticipate that this year we will welcome more people than ever before to this fantastic event,” he said. – TradeArabia News Service