Gulf Today

Zakat drive of ‘Friends of Cancer Patients’ registers early success

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The Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP) has collaborat­ed with the ‘UAE Food Bank’ for the second year to distribute 100 food packages during the Holy Month of Ramadan to community members suffering from cancer and their families through the annual ‘I Deserve a Life’ Zakat campaign, in a step forward towards delivering on its goals to provide much-needed support to underprivi­leged cancer patients across the UAE.

Organised by the Uae-based civil society, the campaign continues to receive the enthusiast­ic support of the UAE community. The campaign also aligns with FOCP’S mandate dedicated to offering financial and psychologi­cal support to cancer patients, and raising awareness about cancer and the importance of early detection.

As part of its initiative­s for the holy month, FOCP also kicked off the ‘Give & Gain 2022’ Ramadan campaign charity fitness challenge on April 7. Supported by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI)’S Engage Dubai Programme for corporate volunteeri­ng, the challenge is open until April 30.

The two Ramadan activation­s reflect on FOCP’S holistic approach to supporting cancer patients

Organised by the Uae-based civil society, the campaign continues to receive the enthusiast­ic support of the UAE community

and their families in the UAE, as the non-profit ensures that the less fortunate batling this difficult disease feel especially loved and supported during this holy period. FOCP’S innovative approach to encouragin­g active community involvemen­t in supporting cancer patients, particular­ly during Ramadan, also testifies to the non-profit’s holistic methodolog­ies of cancer prevention and care.

Commenting on the ongoing success of the ‘I Deserve a Life’ Zakat campaign, Khawla Rashid, Director of Beneficiar­y Support Services at FOCP said: “The ‘I Deserve a Life’ campaign is a reinforcem­ent of our holistic approach and steadfast efforts to assist cancer patients, particular­ly those who are unable to bear the financial costs associated with this long and arduous journey.”

“On behalf of FOCP, I extend my wholeheart­ed gratitude to every individual and organisati­on in the UAE who have commitedly supported our Zakat campaign thus far. The campaign has already made enormous strides this year with supporting cancer patients and covering the cost of their expensive treatment, and with more contributi­ons from new and existing donors, I believe its impact on the UAE’S cancer community can be truly profound,” she added.

FOCP is calling on companies and organisati­ons in the UAE to support their ‘Give & Gain 2022’ Ramadan challenge by encouragin­g their workforce to download the Relay by FOCP app and fulfil their daily quota of 8,000 steps to stay fit and healthy. In return, participat­ing companies will donate 1 fils for every step their employees take towards FOCP’S efforts in boosting cancer awareness advocacy and providing treatment support.

Relay by FOCP was launched in 2019 at the second edition of the UAE Relay for Life (RFL) cancer walkathon organised by FOCP.

FOCP offers donors the opportunit­y to contribute to the campaign via online donations enabling community members to donate directly to the foundation’s website at: www.focp.ae. Zakat Coupons worth Dhs 10, 50,100, 500 and 1,000 at htps://focp.ae/coupon. SMS Donations are made possible through messaging the word ‘Zakat’ to the Etisalat numbers: 6447 to donate Dhs20; 4426 to donate Dhs50, 4467 to donate Dhs200; or 2308 to donate Dhs500. Finally, donations via bank transfer are accepted via

FOCP’S ‘Zakatkm Elajohm’ local account number 0011-364854-002 at the Sharjah Islamic Bank (Internatio­nal Bank Account Number ‘IBAN’: AE44041000­0011364854­002).

DONATION OF DHS5M TO ‘1 BILLION MEALS’ Initiative:moreover,daralberso­cietyannou­nced a donation of Dhs5 million to the ‘1 Billion Meals’ initiative, the region’s largest campaign of its kind, from the UAE to the world, to provide food support to the underprivi­leged and undernouri­shed in less fortunate communitie­s across 50 countries.

The Society’s donation, equivalent to five million meals, is in line with its existing humanitari­an efforts to aid the less fortunate, and contribute­s to the efforts of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative­s (MBRGI) within the ‘1 Billion Meals’ initiative, in collaborat­ion and coordinati­on with the United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP), the Food Banking Regional Network (FBRN), the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitari­an and Charity Establishm­ent (MBRCH), the United Nations High Commission­er for Refugees (UNHCR), the UAE Food Bank, as well as a number of local charity and humanitari­an organisati­ons in beneficiar­y countries.

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The FOCP’S Zakat 2022 campaign distribute­s food boxes to less fortunate cancer patients.
↑ The FOCP’S Zakat 2022 campaign distribute­s food boxes to less fortunate cancer patients.

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