Pedal power in the United Arab Emirates

Guests and associates at Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Al Fujairah will be given the opportunity to help support UNICEF in its work with street children in Egypt by supporting Starwood’s Divisional charity bike ride - Road to Awareness – through a number of fundraising activities which will culminate in a final 100-bike spinning event at Fitness First Ibn Battuta on 15 August.

The 2009 Road to Awareness bike ride is built upon last year’s successful Road To Awareness campaign, which was initiated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts in May 2008 and raised nearly 250,000 Euros for a UNICEF project in Mozambique.

In the lead-up to this year’s Road to Awareness, Le Méridien Al Aqah will also be selling AED 100 raffle tickets which will enter the holder in a special raffle giving them the chance to win a five-night holiday in the luxurious Royal Suite. The resort will hold other fund-raising activities, ranging from fun bike-rides to inter-hotel tournaments, with a donation box in the lobby.

Road to Awareness is the brain-child of Guido De Wilde, Vice President, Regional Director of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in the Middle East. This year, the funds raised will go to help UNICEF in its work with street children in Egypt. UNICEF’s work helps thousands of children in Cairo who need protection from street violence, abuse, and risky behaviours associated with not having a stable home. Donations to UNICEF through Road to Awareness will also go towards the training of 45 social workers who are in daily contact with the underprivileged children in order to improve the quality of support and care provided.

Le Méridien Al Aqah will put all donations towards raising the overall target figure of $150,000 for this worthy cause.

This year, from September 4 to 6, Starwood representatives, including De Wilde and Bojan Kalodjera, Recreation Manager of Le Méridien Al Aqah, will participate in the grueling race, traversing 360 km and covering some of the most legendary climbs in the French Pyrenees.

“Road to Awareness aims to educate and inform the community about how simple actions can change the lives of children in the developing world. The initiative enhances Starwood’s corporate social responsibility agenda, which is implemented throughout our hotels all over the world,” said De Wilde.

Guests at the Resort can make a difference by cycling for only one minute, using a stationary bike at the resort, and donating AED 10 for each minute. Each day, the guest clocking the maximum distance will win a dinner for two.

As for the spinning event at Fitness First Ibn Battuta, a series of elimination rounds are currently being held at all Fitness First centers in the UAE to choose the member teams for the 15 August competition, which will take place at Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai from 6pm to 9pm. Le Méridien Al Aqah has teamed up with Fitness First to offer the winners various exciting prizes including luxury hotel stays, a dinner for two, and adventure trips.

So far, the initiative has been met with resounding success.

“The support from the community has been overwhelming – particularly with the participation of Fitness First. It is a great chance for people to build their fitness, while raising urgently needed funds for education and other programs supporting homeless children in Egypt, ” said Patrick Antaki, General Manager, Le Méridien Al Aqah.

Last year’s campaign coincided with the introduction of Le Méridien hotels to the Check Out for Children partnership with UNICEF, whereby guests in Le Méridien’s entire network of hotels and resorts in Europe, Africa and the Middle East have the opportunity to support UNICEF by agreeing to the addition of US$1 (or local currency equivalent) to their bills when they check out.

For more information and details on how to donate visit the Road to Awareness website: roadtoawareness.com

For more information and hotels bookings at Le Méridien, visit lemeridien.com.