SSSD participates in Friends of Arthritis Patients Marathon

Sharjah 24: 24 men and women from Al Asalah Club, affiliated with the Sharjah Social Services Department (SSSD), who are over 60 years old, participated in the 12th annual marathon of the Friends of Arthritis Patients, affiliated with the Health Promotion Department of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs in Sharjah, under the theme "Movement is Life and Life is Movement", on Al Khan Beach.

Aimed at enhancing awareness of health, community and humanitarian activities

The marathon comes within the association's vision aimed at enhancing awareness of health, community and humanitarian activities, shedding light on arthritis, in addition to supporting patients who face daily challenges, providing them with material and moral support and helping them enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

Members of Al Asala Club participated in the first stage, which was a 1 km walk. Samia Al Shamsi, the club’s official, mentioned the importance of the elderly participating in sports events, and the marathon is one of the most important, as arthritis pain is suffered by the elderly, highlighting the club’s keenness to participate in it annually, in addition to many sports activities held in Sharjah, noting the importance of the elderly practicing sports, to maintain their health and physical fitness.

310 Volunteers

310 volunteers from the Sharjah Volunteering Centre, affiliated with the SSSD, also participated in the marathon, and contributed to the organisational and supervisory work in the marathon based on the principle of social solidarity and to enhance the spirit of giving and community contribution.

The volunteers worked to organise the audience and respond to crises and community emergencies with the participation of the centre’s paramedic team, and distribute water and juices to the participants and provide snacks after the race ended. They also encouraged and motivated the participants in the race by standing along the race track to encourage the runners with banners and motivational words and distribute medals and certificates of appreciation to the participants at the finish line.