Charity beach walk aims to help Friendship Society for the Blind

TDT | Manama                           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Staff Reporter   

Ayadi Relief has partnered with Dana Zubari in organising a charity walk to raise funds for The Friendship Society for the Blind.

Ayadi Relief is an international and humanitarian, youth-led association that aims to serve affected communities in the Middle East and Africa. According to the Ministry of Health, approximately 40 million people are blind around the world.

Additionally, another 110 million are suffering from severe visual impairment. The ministry reported eye trauma as an important cause for blindness in Bahrain. A study was conducted on cases of eye injuries that required hospital admission, and a total of 489 patients were evaluated with 90 percent being males and 10 percent females.

Children under 20 years old constituted 41.3 percent of total cases, with males accounting 85 percent and females accumulated 19.9 percent. The charity walk consists of a 1.5km walk located at Marassi Beach tomorrow at 3:30 pm.

The event is inclusive to everybody, and all the funds raised are donated 100% to Ayadi Relief. The ticket price is BD5 to attend the charity walk. Zubari, co-founder of Tru Active Sportswear, told The Daily Tribune: “The charity event includes everyone of all ages, even kids are allowed, and the event provides free entry to them. There are no dangerous or unsafe measures surrounding the event, so parents are able to bring their children whilst supporting the cause, free of worry.”

“The aim is to use the money raised to create a better space for The Friendship Society for The Blind. For example, adding textured walls for them to touch and feel.” The use of different materials with varied textures improves the recognition of tactile images by young blind people.

Zubari uses her social media platforms to shed light on various topics in the Kingdom such as encouraging women to stay fit and get active for free of charge. She arranges a running and walking event twice a week for women (free of charge) to inspire women to get active, as she aims to strengthen communities for women to feel safe, as well as to engage with other women.

She highlighted that making this event free of charge caters to all women who range in different socio-economic levels. Essentially, Zubari said: “It is important that women of all socio-economic backgrounds are able to get active in a safe environment, whilst not having to spend a massive amount of money to do so.”

Dana also carried out an event last year which hosted the yearly Dilmunia Breast Cancer Awareness walk, bringing together 200 participants for the Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She also partnered with the charity ‘A Box of Goodness’ previously, to collect food during the holy month of Ramadan for families in need in Bahrain.

They created ‘A Run for Ramadan’, a 3 km run around Bahrain Harbour, which encouraged members of the community to bring an item of non-perishable food to be distributed to families all around the Kingdom. Dana said: “I want to give back to the community, even if it takes one percent of my time. I want to create safe spaces for women, as well as shed light on important topics.”