Hospital run

THOUSANDS of people from all over the country will take part tomorrow in the third Marathon Festival 57357 to be held at Cairo Stadium to raise awareness and funds for the new children's cancer hospital, writes Inas Mazhar .

The number 57357 stands for a bank account in which donations can be sent, the hospital's name and phone number and a Web site.

"More than 60,000 people from all walks of life attended last year's event," said media consultant Maram Moussa. "They come because of a common cause and their belief in one of the most important charity projects in Egypt today, the AFNCI Hospital 57357," which the Association of Friends of the National Cancer Institute AFNCI is building. "One of the AFNCI's main objectives is to promote good hygienic practices. Physical activity has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease," Moussa added.

There will be six kinds of races in the day including a professional 15km-long event. The run will take place from the hospital site to Cairo Stadium. A three-kilometre run in the stadium grounds will see university students running in addition to another three-km run for young and old alike.

A 400-metre run inside the stadium will take place for those aged 10 to 18. Co-workers will join in a three-km distance company run. Finally, there is the invitational celebrity/VIP 400-metre walk/run, also inside the stadium.

On the sidelines, AFNCI festival 57357 promises a big day full of activities including skate boarding, bungee trampoline, a celebrity football match, fireworks, music, a magic show and concerts with a star-studded line-up.

"All activities are free. We will accept donations for Hospital 57357 at the AFNCI Donations Booth on the day of festival 57357," Moussa said.