Thousands to put best foot forward for charity drive

More than 4,000 people have registered for the Dubai Municipality ‘Yalla Walk' initiative to date. The welcome packs include a pedometer, T-shirt and instructions. Every registered walker is required to update the distance walked, which would be converted into a charity fund from Dubai Municipality and the Al Maktoum Charity Foundation. The ‘Every Step is a Reward,' the initiative was a success upon its launch at the beginning of Ramadan, with more than 600 people registering on the first day across all five designated parks. The initiative is being sponsored by Reebok and supported by the Al Maktoum Foundation and Al Fattan Properties, and is being held across the public parks of Dubai. It aims to educate the public about healthy habits during Ramadan, raise charity funds and encourage people to walk on tracks across Dubai. Article continues below Zena Habi, a Reebok fitness expert, said she couldn't emphasise enough the benefits of exercise and the need to take care of your body. Brisk walk "I advise everyone to go for a 30 minute brisk walk after iftar. It will increase body metabolism and help digestion, eventually keeping one away from serious medical complications such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, etc." she said. Zena will be on hand at the Reebok tent to provide health and fitness advice to walkers at Safa Park every Monday and Zabeel Park on Wednesday evenings between 8pm and 9pm. The Yalla Walk initiative was established to promote walking, as an easy and economic way to stay fit and healthy that people can easily apply into their day-to-day life. There are 33 safe and accessible walking tracks in urban and rural areas available for use. "The campaign aims to help the needy people and promote walking as well as to support charity under the slogan ‘Each step is a Reward', and the doors are open for institutions and individuals to help raise the charity fund by supporting the Municipality in this initiative," Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of the Municipality, said. Participants can raise the funds allocated by Municipality and its partners by merely walking. The more walkers on the tracks, the more funds are raised for the charity. Distances will be recorded on individual pedometers, supplied to participants on registration. A fundraising meter installed at each park will record the distance collectively walked and will serve to help the public keep track of the funds they have raised. They can also update their distances through SMS or online.