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GULFWEEKLY readers are being urged to go an extra mile by painting a colourful tile to spread cheer and positive energy in the kingdom's hospital wards where children are battling against cancer and other life-threatening conditions.
They can try their hand at creative art by placing their handprints and writing a message during a two-day 'paintathon' this coming Monday and Tuesday at Studio Ceramics on Budaiya Highway.
The event has been organised by the studio in support of Adliya resident and personal trainer Maria Stasi who is running the Virgin London Marathon 2010 to raise funds for CLIC Sargent, a UK children's cancer charity, and to support sick youngsters in Bahrain.
To help children in both countries, organisers have decided to donate the money raised to CLIC Sargent while the painted and baked tiles will be donated to children's wards in hospitals across the kingdom.
Sarah Al Sammak of Studio Ceramics said: "It is a very, very noble cause and it provides a win-win situation for everyone. While you get to paint and enjoy the activity, kids at the hospital will benefit from a splash of colour that would hopefully spark some joy from their surroundings."
Maria, 35, a mother-of-two, said that her desire to help the needy came from her own personal suffering that she overcame with determination and resolve.
Maria Stasi is in full training to run the London Marathon and hopes her efforts will help sick children in the UK and Bahrain.
The 35-year-old mother-of-two is urging residents in the kingdom to support a tile-painting initiative which will brighten up hospital wards where sick children are being treated as she prepares for her daunting road-running challenge.
She said: "Why I decided to run for charity is because I myself suffer from a chronic bowel disease called ulcerative colitis (UC) that I was diagnosed with when I was 19.
"I started getting into health and fitness about seven years ago after having my second child and having suffered a very bad attack of UC, followed by anxiety attacks. I decided to take myself off all prescription medication, steroids and anti-spasmodic drugs and try a healthy diet and fitness regime along with alternative therapy - not medication, but a healing and positive mental state of mind!
"This was a turning point for me and my condition as I have been in remission more or less since then. I had made up my mind around three years ago that I would one day run the London Marathon to prove not just to myself but also to many others that with the right attitude anything is possible.
"As a mother I cannot imagine what a family must endure when the parents are told that the most precious thing in the world to them, their child, has cancer, so it struck a chord with me and I just wanted to help."
Maria started training three years ago running around Adliya, Amwaj and Hamala. She initially ran small distances and gained enough confidence to run in the Bahrain Marathon Relay and then the Bahrain Half Marathon.
After two earlier unsuccessful attempts she received the green light to run in the London Marathon in January as a last-minute replacement. Maria hopes to complete the run within four-and-a-half-hours and raise more than _1,800 (BD1,045) for CLIC Sargent.
In Bahrain her supporters have organised a 'Paintathon' which takes place between 3pm and 8pm on April 19 and 20.
"The idea of the 'Paintathon' was totally Anne Kesterton's. She's a friend of mine and part owner of Studio Ceramics," Maria explained.
"I would love to raise as much as possible and we are hoping many people will come along to make a difference to a child's life."
Maria, from London, is married to Gulf Air aircraft engineer Lambros and they have two daughters, Katie, 12, and Kyra, eight, who attend the British School of Bahrain. They have lived in Bahrain for three years.
She added: "Whenever I'm tired and achy from training and cannot go any further I simply think of those poor kids enduring tests and cancer treatments and just keep running!"
Sarah Al Sammak of Studio Ceramics said: "We have suggested a donation of BD6 per tile but it is up to individuals to donate as much as they would like. Normally the tile painting exercise costs BD8 but we are donating all the profits and our services to the good cause.
"We were hoping to have the handprints and names of those taking part in different colours. It will really brighten up the hospital walls in the children's wards and show the suffering youngsters that we are supporting and thinking about them. Messages from the heart will also spread cheer and hope."
Contact Studio Ceramics on 17599026 for more information. Also visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser or web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=MariaStasi&pageUrl=2
