Staff and students of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) are staging a charity relay running race at their campus on Saturday with the aim of raising funds to help the disabled.

The RCSI Bahrain Charity Challenge 2012 is the first edition of many more annual challenges to come. The initiative is the brainchild of RCSI Bahrain’s chemistry lecturer, Declan Gaynor, who generated more than BD800 in 2010 for charity after completing the Dubai marathon.

All funds raised will go to the Bahrain Mobility International (BMI). Established in 1979, it provides social rehabilitation and services to the disabled in Bahrain. It also offers training workshops to those with special needs and helps them to produce goods for sales and exhibition.

Mr Gaynor said: “RCSI has a long history of being involved within the community, holding one big charity event every year. However, we have something different in mind for this year and rather than holding just one event we are aiming a collective of fundraising opportunities.

“These events not only benefit the community but also our students as well and I am constantly encouraging them to go out there and help others.

“This challenge is something that everyone should get behind and our target is to raise enough money to purchase new equipment for the physiotherapy clinic at BMI in Isa Town.”

Members of RCSI Bahrain along with other schools, universities and clubs across the kingdom are ready to hit the pavement in support, encouraging family and friends to join them in their charitable endeavours.

More than 10 teams, with up to 16 runners per team, have registered for the six-hour relay race which is set to take place on the 1.5km course within the RCSI campus.

The team that runs the most laps will then be crowned the charity challenge champions.

Five RCSI Bahrain squads have already signed up to run along with a staff team and a number of students from sporting teams.

The race will also include runners from the University of Bahrain (UoB), Bahrain Polytechnic, St Christopher’s School, Arabian Gulf Pearl School, the British Club and the Irish Society.

Meanwhile, RCSI students have been hard at work organising a selection of fun games and activities for guests to enjoy.

The RCSI campus will be transformed into a market place filled with a variety of goodies for sale including food vendors, a recycling booth by Friends of the Environment Society, a live fashion show, a DJ and band.
 
BMI will also have a stall and there will be health checks available as well.
 
The event is sponsored by Gulf Health Services, House of Uniforms, recruitment management company Talent 2, Ibn Al Nafees Hospital, BMMI, Arwa water, Universal Laboratories and Olympia Sports.

Doors are set to open at 9am and the race will get underway by 10am. The race will conclude at 4pm with a prize giving ceremony.
 
Registration and sponsorship is still available and interested parties can email challenge@rcsimub.com, visit www.rcsibahrain.edu.bh/challenge or become a fan of RCSI Bahrain on Facebook.