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CHARITY champion Mohammed Al Asfoor is aiming to climb the kingdom’s tallest tower next Thursday and is urging athletes to join him on his fundraising mission.
The sport loving father-of-three had started the New Year on a high note, completing various marathons and events in Dubai and Bahrain while spreading the simple message: ‘Help the Cause, Run, Walk for Sickle Cell’.
Now, the 43-year-old marketing manager is set to conquer the Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH) challenge of climbing 54 floors and taking 10,899 steps in less than 15 minutes as part of his charity campaign.
This is his concluding endeavour after stepping forward to help raise awareness and buy vital equipment for local sufferers of Sickle Cell Anaemia, a hereditary blood disorder.
Mohammed, who lives in Saar and works for Well Flow Bahrain, a provider of clean-up tools, said: “This is such an exciting challenge and a great way to mark the end of my initiative to raise awareness about the challenges that Sickle Cell patients and carriers endure in their life, such as finding jobs or completing their education while trying to stay healthy.
“The idea surfaced while sitting at my desk at work. I was peering out the window, trying to figure out a memorable method to conclude my campaign. As I was staring out at the Manama skyline, I couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the BFH towers and suddenly it came to me - why not run vertically!
“People in the US have run up the Empire State Building to raise fund and awareness for good causes. BFH is our Empire State Building. It is the tallest tower and will be an exciting event.”
Climbing BFH is one step beyond for Mohammed who has already run up the 30-floor Fakhro Tower, where he works, on several occasions. For the past fortnight, he has been preparing for the challenge by running up BFH three-times-a-week and focusing on strength and conditioning exercises.
He has also rallied other runners by asking the question: ‘I can do it … do you think you can?’
Mohammed said: “One group of runners came out to one of my training sessions. They didn’t think they had it in them but they did it and even quicker than me. If I can do it, then what do you have to lose? And it’s all for a good cause!”
The challenge, which will take place on June 2 from 4pm in BFH’s West Tower, is limited to 50 participants aged 16 and above.
BFH Management is ‘excited’ to be a part of Mohammed’s Sickle Cell campaign and has opened the tower to runners for training on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday from 4.30pm to 6pm.
Terence M Davis, BFH building operations and tenant liaison manager, said: “This is a great initiative from Mohammed and for a great cause too.
“We decided to offer the West Tower for the Sickle Cell Challenge because it has never been done before and because it will help local people from suffering by raising funds for the purchase of specialist medical equipment.
“This is the first type of event to be organised here at the harbour towers. We have emailed all of our tenants and everyone is thrilled to support it.”
The BD5 registration fee will be added to the donations for the Bahrain Society for Sickle Cell Anaemia Patient Care and used to help purchase four blood exchange devices called Spectra Optia system.
The BD26,000 blood transfusion devices make frequently-required treatment quicker and more bearable for sufferers and helps to improve their quality of life. The devices will be set up at the Genetic Blood Disease Centre in Salmaniya Medical Complex.
According to Mohammed, one machine has already been purchased by the Almoayyed family. The Bahrain Road Runners have also donated BD20,000 for the cause which will be added to the BD4,000 plus that he has collected throughout his initiative.
Mohammed added: “The Rotary clubs in Bahrain have also promised to jointly purchase one or two devices. This is a great accomplishment as our goal was to buy four machines and it looks like we will achieve that.
“These devices can cut the time down for treatment to a couple of hours, so sickle cell patients can get back home, to work, to spend time with the families and to get on with life.
“There are about 18,000 Sickle Cell patients and around 65,000 Sickle Cell carriers in Bahrain so this new equipment will really help.”
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a severe hereditary form of anaemia in which a mutated form of haemoglobin distorts the red blood cells. It causes episodes of excruciating pain and other symptoms. Certain conditions that can trigger ‘sickling’ include cold, infections, dehydration or low oxygen levels.
In February, our sister newspaper Gulf Daily News reported that Bahraini Ali Mohammed Al Kayyes, from Bani Jamra, had become the sixth Sickle Cell patient to die this year.
Aged in his late thirties, he died just four days after Bahraini Qassim Mustafa Al Saegh, 27, and another 61-year-old woman died due to complications of the disease. Mr Al Kayyes’ brother, Jaffer, also lost his life to the disease in 2009.
Mohammed said: “This campaign has been great in raising awareness and although the campaign is coming to an end, I hope that others continue to support and help in any way they can. For example, go out and donate blood. Don’t wait until you get a message on your phone saying someone needs it.
“By donating blood you are saving a life, especially as 50 per cent of the blood donated goes to Sickle Cell patients.”
During his campaign he has held fundraising events at art galleries, staged blood donation drives and formed a team, featuring seven different nationalities, to run in the Bahrain Road Runners full marathon which was held in February. This is not the end of the journey for Mohammed as he plans to carry out other charity initiatives in the future.
Runners can register online at https://goo.gl/forms/Yr0IVHJfzI and it closes on May 30 at 11:30pm. Fees can be paid when picking up jersey numbers on May 31 and on June 1 between 4pm and 6pm.
To find out more about the challenge email Mohammed on mohammed_6000@hotmail.com, follow him on Instagram under the hashtag #run4sicklecell or contact the Bahrain Society for SCD Patients Care on 17300073 or email info@scdbh.
