KUWAIT CITY, Feb 23: The Hyundai RunKuwait 2013 under the patronage of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah kicked off on Saturday from Abdaly (Kuwait-Iraq border) in the northern part of Kuwait. The event is being held for a good cause, to help autistic children at the Applied Behaviour Centre (ABC). Hyundai RunKuwait 2013 team leader Yousef Al-Qanai along with his running mates has embarked on a five-day journey and will be running the distance of 240 kilometres from the northern border to the southern border of the country, nearly 50 kilometres a day until Feb 27. He is accompanied by his fellow runners Muna Al-Wazzan, Bader Al-Failakawi,  Fahad Al-Ibrahim, Reem Al-Awadi , Mohammed Hassan and Ahmed Mousa from Egypt. Despite the slight dust and drizzle, Al-Qanai and his team started off at 8 am on schedule.

Water checkpoints are placed every five kilometres where the relay runners do their rotation while a police vehicle is trailing behind them for security. The relay team consisting of five runners will be on rotation and change every five kilometres while the remaining four accompanying them are riding a Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 model, provided by the Northern Gulf Trading Co.
RunKuwait was first held in February 2012, when a group of runners led by Al-Qanai ran from the northern border to the southern border of Kuwait as a symbol of determination, willpower, and teamwork. This to show that a monumental endeavor can be overcome with the right people with a common goal.
This year it has been renamed to Hyundai RunKuwait 2013 and is sponsored by the Northern Gulf Trading Company, Ali Abdulwahab & Sons through its Nike Stores as well as Asnan Tower and Mada Communication as golden sponsors. The public can join in the Support Run on Feb 25 to help raise funds for the autistic children at the ABC.

During the event, the runners will resume running daily at 8 am in designated places. Equipped in advance, none from the running team can return to his or her home until the end of the trip. On the second day, February 24, runners are expected to be in Jahra Road at the Martyr Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Hall, which will be the resting point for that day.
On the third day runners resume running from Jahra until Kuwait Towers passing by Sulaibikhat through Jamal Abdel Nasser Street,  the Arabian Gulf Road, enroute to the Scientific Centre where the three-kilometre Support Run will be held.  The Support Run will start from the Scientific Centre on the Arabian Gulf Road to the Asnan Tower on Belajat Road.
Runners will get back on their journey on the fourth day from Mishref running along the Fahaheel Expressway and rest at the Fahaheel area.  On the fifth and final day, runners are expected to complete their run by reaching the Kuwait-Saudi Arabia border. Details of the run can be checked online on www.runkuwait.com as organisers enjoined the public to participate in the Support Run on Feb 25.
 

By Michelle Fe Santiago
Arab Times Staff