Thousands of people are expected to take part in a major community cycling event at Zayed Sports City Stadium on September 30, when Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will be organizing the first in a new series of ‘Cycle For Health UAE’ events in partnership with Healthpoint and Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, all part of Mubadala’s network of world-class healthcare providers.
Presented by The Department of Health, the event will provide people with the chance to enjoy a leisurely ride around the iconic venue without having to worry about traffic. It is open to everyone, from enthusiastic cyclists to families looking to learn how to ride for the first time. The 1.9 km course will take riders on a loop through the stadium and along closed-off roads.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will be hosting health screenings, exercise information sessions and healthy-heart cooking demonstrations at the September 30 event, which will focus on supporting the hospital’s “Love Your Heart” campaign for World Heart Day.
Other fun activities will include a learn-to-ride program, bouncy castles, and a healthy food truck, with complimentary bikes and helmets available. Lessons and coaching will be provided to children and adults as part of the learn-to-ride program.
“Our ‘Cycle for Health UAE’ events are designed for families to have fun, but they also have a serious message,” said Dr. Rakesh M. Suri, Chief of Staff and Chief of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. “Cycling and other forms of regular exercise reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death in the UAE, and enable people to live healthier lifestyles.”
The September 30 event will be the culmination of a series of activities organized by Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as part of “Love Your Heart” to mark World Heart Day, which have included community health activities, online heart health education resources and a range of initiatives designed to raise awareness about the advanced cardiovascular services available at the hospital.
Following the September event, future “Cycle for Health UAE” events will run on every last Saturday of the month. Participants who are interested in learning how to ride a bike can return for every session and receive coaching, with the aim of enabling people to be confident riders by the end of the program. The venue will host a dedicated area where parents and children can improve their balance, coordination and skills under the eye of professional instructors.
Visitor parking will be provided free of charge at Zayed Sports City Stadium.