Zayed Charity Run draws 2,000 participants in Rio de Janeiro to fund youth education

More than 2,000 runners, including a 50-member delegation from the UAE, participated in the second edition of the Zayed Charity Run in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, 24 August. The event, held at Flamengo Beach, raised registration proceeds to support the Criança Esperança programme through the Grupo Cultural AfroReggae, targeting educational and social inclusion initiatives for Brazilian youth. Race Winners and Prize Distribution The 2026 edition featured a total prize pool exceeding BRL 500,000 (approximately Dh330,000), which included cash awards and Emirates Airline ticket draws. In the competitive 10K category, Bekele Felene Tarniru secured first place in the men’s division, while Aynalem Debele Ketema led the women’s field. The 5K category saw Vitor Ferreira Dos Santos and Djenyfer Arnold take top honours in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively. In the 5K PCD (People of Determination) category, Jean Oliveira Da Silva and Antonia Keyla Da Silva Barros claimed the top spots. The event was organised by the Zayed Charity Run committee and ERTH Abu Dhabi, with support from the UAE Embassy in Brazil and sponsors including L’IMAD, Emirates Airline, and Mubadala. Global Expansion and Humanitarian Impact The event is part of a broader international circuit that has expanded to cities including New York, Cairo, Beijing, and Budapest since its inception in Abu Dhabi in 2001. Lt. Gen. (Rtd.) Mohamed Helal Al Kaabi, Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, stated that the…