General Electric (GE) employees in the United Arab Emirates took part in the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon, described as the ‘highest accredited road race in the Middle East’ to raise funds for a local charity.
Nineteen GE Volunteers took part in the grueling marathon run covering a distance of 21.095 km and raised over AED 33,000 to be donated to Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs.
Nabil Habayeb, GE’s President and CEO for the Middle East and Africa region, said: “GE Volunteers in the Middle East are active participants in events that have brought tangible results to different cross-sections of the society. This is an integral part of the company’s culture, and we will continue participating in such events in the future.”
The RAK Half Marathon, currently in the fourth year, is organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.
The event, which has been awarded the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Silver Label and is an associated member of the Association of International Road Races and Distance Running (AIMS), brings together people from different walks of life to test marathon skills while raising funds for a social cause.
Hasan Dandashly, Regional General Manager in Energy, and GE Volunteers UAE co-leader who lead the event said, "Uniting for a worthy cause has a lasting effect on both the community and the participants. The RAK Half Marathon is one of the exceptional events - not only does it contribute positively to society, but it also encourages a healthy lifestyle."
GE Volunteers, who regularly take part in a range of community initiatives, formed one of the strong contingents of corporate participants in the RAK Half Marathon. Other employees and family members from the company also attended the event to cheer the team.
Some of the initiatives that the GE volunteer teams throughout the GCC countries have taken up include hosting Iftar for children with special needs, blood donation campaigns, and participation in the ‘Stand Up to End Poverty’ campaign. They have also volunteered for several social events to help communities in the region.
Some 175 GE Volunteer Councils in 46 countries and over 100,000 volunteers undertake over 1 million hours of community service every year. GE Volunteers places emphasis on education, environment, healthcare and overall community development.
