Valentine’s Day baby needs help to battle blood cancer
6,000 people confirm participation in 5km walkathon to raise funds for six patients
Four-year-old Adam Kassem points to his head with his little finger to show his mother that he is growing some hair.
His mother’s heart, however, aches with the knowledge that her son’s joy is short-lived as Adam will have to return to chemotherapy after he recovers from a bout of common cold.
The Lebanese boy was diagnosed with blood cancer, or leukaemia, three months ago.
As Adam celebrates his birthday on Valentine’s Day today, thousands of residents will come together in a 5km walkathon called Mercithon at Dubai Creek Park on February 24 to collect funds for him and five other cancer patients so they can pay for one year of treatment.
The Samaritan Ministry of St Mary’s Catholic Church, organisers of the event in association with Emirates Red Crescent, said that 6,000 people have confirmed their participation to raise Dh650,000 for these patients. As Adam turns four today, his parents are worried about raising Dh250,000 for his treatment at Dubai Hospital.
“My Adam was like every other healthy kid, but a couple of months ago we noticed that he stopped eating well and was turning pale. We took him to a doctor, and after tests, we were told that he has leukaemia. Since then our life has turned upside down,” Fatima Kassem, Adam’s mother, said.
The mother of three, living in Sharjah, refuses to call it blood cancer because the word distresses her.
Adam’s father, Hisham Kassem, who works for a private firm, said the only chance of Adam’s survival lies in completing the treatment.
In addition to the cost of Adam’s treatment, the family has to manage rent, school fees and food on a salary of Dh6,000. Adam’s treatment includes chemotherapy cycles, regular blood tests, and medication, his father said. “He also has to stay at the hospital for part of the treatment.”
Adam is getting tired of visiting the hospital constantly and not being able to leave the house or socialise with other children because of his weak immune system.
Fatima said that her message on Valentine’s Day is: “It’s a day for love and happiness for many people, and I hope people can pray for him. I want my child’s days to be filled with happiness. He is a jolly child and really smart. He Tickets for the Mercithon, to be held between
on February 24, can be bought in person at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai, for Dh50. The event will include a family fun fair, food stalls, kids zone and live shows. Visit to register online.
and 4pm 8am www.mercithon.com
was supposed to go to school this year, but we have to postpone that,” she said.
The walkathon has a mission to support patients from different nationalities including Lebanon, Syria, Philippines, and Pakistan.
Lennie Connully, parish priest at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai, said: “We invite the generous community of Dubai to cut across all barriers of colour, caste or creed and support Adam through this charity event and make it a huge success.”