Further reinforcing Dubai’s stature as “The City That Cares”, the region’s sailing community has rallied around Katy Newitt, as she attempts to sail around the emirate’s premier landmark, ‘The World’, on Sunday, April 7th, 2006, in a unique race that showcases determination and endeavor.
Newitt is a Dubai-based mother of three who is slowly losing her eyesight to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a hereditary eye disease and hopes her effort will help raise greater understanding of the disease and help raise funds to find a cure. However that disability has not stopped her from embarking on her journey.
Benefiting Foresight, a UAE-based, non-profit organization and a branch of Tamkeen, 40-year-old Newitt will be helming a boat in a race around ‘The World’, competing against the UAE’s well-known female sailing talent, Shamsa Damsal. In the race, both Newitt and Damsal will be helming their own boats, each supported by a team of female sailors.
The event will be held during the ISAF Nations Cup regional finals on April 7th, 2006, with the race ending at the Dubai International Marine Club. Newitt’s determination has inspired local sailing clubs to be involved in the ‘Sail Foresight around The World’ campaign and make their Commodores Cup a part of this event.
Speaking at a press conference in Dubai today, Newitt said that the race would help to give hope that a cure for RP and other retinal diseases will be found. Through her effort, Newitt hopes to create greater understanding about hereditary eye diseases and present a positive image of people who are partially sighted and blind.
“This race is not about winning or creating records, when it comes to achievements people with visual impairment can have the same opportunities,” she added. “The sponsorship of our efforts and all donations will go towards funding further research into the disease which currently affects over 30 million people worldwide.”
The effort received a further boost with Nakheel and The World underlining their support of the event by pledging sponsorship. Foresight officials said that the support of the two major business groups would encourage Katy and Damsal in their mission.
Hereditary retinal diseases have been untreatable until now but dramatic advances in medical research means that cures will be found within 10 years. Foresight’s primary objective is to encourage, support and fund this research locally and internationally into cures for inherited retinal diseases, specifically Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Explaining Nakheel’s support to the campaign, Hamza Mustafa, General Manager of The World, pointed out: “What Katy is doing is a marvelous feat on its own. It is amazing that someone can even attempt to sail against such challenges.”
“By supporting the race, Nakheel will be committing itself towards research for finding a cure against Retinitis Pigmentosa, a growing cause of blindness in the UAE. And of course, the challenge that Katy has taken is worth the support in itself,” added Mustafa.
In acknowledgement of Nakheel’s support to the cause and the race, Newitt stated: “This is a company where the dream of Dubai gets built, but today they have shown support in building the hope of thousands of people affected by the disease. I hope their generosity will inspire others to help us find a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa.”
In preparation for the event, Newitt has begun her training for the big event. Her disability makes her all the more determined to help others like her. “Training is hard and I have to really concentrate as I rely on my senses to helm the boat, such as noting the wind direction from the feel of the breeze on my cheek,” she noted.
Sailing continues to remain Newitt’s hobby – she used to work on charter yachts when still in her twenties and was a gold-medalist in the first blind sailing regatta held in Auckland. Newitt also ran up the British Telecom Tower in London and participated in the London Marathon to support vision-impaired causes.
Meanwhile, Emirati sailor Shamsa Damsal says that racing with Newitt will offer her one of the unique experiences in her sailing life. “I am constantly inspired by Katy’s determination to complete her race around The World. In her quest to encourage others like her, Katy puts on a smile and goes through the paces as any sailor would. I wish her all the best in her endeavors,” Damsal said.
About Foresight
Until recently untreatable, new progress in research means that cures for hereditary retinal diseases could be found. Our aim is to accelerate finding cures for retinal diseases such as Retinitis Pigmentosa. For some forms of retinal disease a cure will be found within 10 years and it is likely that children will be the first to benefit. We also lobby to improve the lives of people who are visually impaired and blind in the UAE.
Foresight is a UAE-based non-profit making organisation and a branch of Tamkeen. We are recognised and advised by Retina International (which coordinates major retinal research internationally), Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, the Emirates Medical Association and the Emirates Association for the Blind.
To contact Foresight: Tel: 3911443 E-mail: [email protected]. Website: www.foresightrp.com
About Tamkeen
Tamkeen (the Arabic word for empowerment) is a non-profit organisation, initiated by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for the training of visually impaired citizens of working age. This unique training centre provides professional training courses that aren’t found anywhere else in the UAE. All courses including transport are free of charge. Tamkeen’s objective is to empower vision impaired UAE nationals and residents with practical, vocational skills to enable them to enter the modern workplace to become economic and socially independent citizens.
About Nakheel
Nakheel is the uniquely focused property development company behind a variety of new landmark developments in Dubai. Nakheel aims to redefine the concept of property development whether residential, tourist, commercial or retail. It has therefore placed great importance on examining the requirements of the different sectors of the community and developing its visionary projects around these findings. Nakheel has a portfolio of 15 major developments, and when complete Nakheel's waterfront projects will add 1,500km of beachfront to the Dubai coastline.
Nakheel's portfolio currently includes The Palm Jumeirah, The Palm Jebel Ali, The Palm Deira, The World, Jumeirah Islands, The Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jumeirah Golf Estates, The Lost City, International City, Discovery Gardens, Jumeirah Village, Dubai Design Centre and Dubai Waterfront.
The World, around which Katy Newitt will be racing, consists of 300 islands 4 km off the coast of Dubai, that are shaped to form a world map. The World is 9km wide by 7km long and will be completed by 2008. Further information can be found at www.nakheel.ae.
