Maria Conceicao undertakes the Ultramarathon Challenge to raise money for kids in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Imran Ahmed)
Maria Conceicao undertakes the Ultramarathon Challenge to raise money for kids in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo by Imran Ahmed)

Doing it for the kids: Maria Conceicao



Although this post is not art related, I had to take the time to tell you about Maria Conceicao. Maria used to be an Emirates airline crew member and was so moved by the plight of the slum children in Dhaka that she set up the Maria Christina Foundation to help them. Over the past nine years she has helped hundreds of kids get through school by opening up schools for them in the slums.

Recently, pushed for new ways to raise funds Maria has taken to pushing her own physical limits. She was the first Portuguese woman and third national to summit Mount Everest and was recently awarded a double Guinness World Record for her conquest of this year’s 777 Ultramarathon Challenge, a seven full-distance 50km ultramarathon that was run on each of the seven continents within seven weeks.

Now, in February next year, she will run the 777 Challenge running seven marathons of 42km in seven days straight. Starting in Australia as its first leg, followed by Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and finally, Antarctica for the last stop, Maria is doing it all for the kids.

She aims to raise US$1million for her charity, which primarily works on providing children in the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh with a good education that would lay the foundation for a rewarding career path, and promote the economic sustainability of their families thereby lifting them out of the poverty trap.

The foundation, apart from sending slum children to school, also leads other social initiatives in Dhaka including adult education and key family welfare packages, such as food assistance, medical and dental care, and housing rent assistance.

“We have a radical approach to address the problem of poverty-stricken children. Our goal is to create sustainable change through education. That is why we can guarantee our donors that every cent they donate has a long-term impact. We do not have overheads, so every penny received goes to the intended beneficiaries.”

Among MCF’s current sponsors are corporate organisations, such as Etihad Airways, Right Bite, NAMA, GEMS Education, Centre for Musical Arts, Full Potential UK, Raahi Group and Option 1 Event Services, UAE, as well as private individuals Dr. Jocelyn Charest, Nabil Dalle, Joe George and Safiya Burnell.

Maria is also looking for people to get involved with the race to run it with her.

* For sponsorship packages and other information about how to get involved, visit www.facebook.com/MariaCristinaFoundation or www.mariacristinafoundation.org. For online donations to the foundation, click here

GYAN’S ASIAN OUTPUT

2011-2015: Al Ain – 123 apps, 128 goals

2015-2017: Shanghai SIPG – 20 apps, 7 goals

2016-2017: Al Ahli (loan) – 25 apps, 11 goals

Company Profile

Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: SmartCrowd
Started: 2018
Founder: Siddiq Farid and Musfique Ahmed
Based: Dubai
Sector: FinTech / PropTech
Initial investment: $650,000
Current number of staff: 35
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Various institutional investors and notable angel investors (500 MENA, Shurooq, Mada, Seedstar, Tricap)

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre flat 6-cylinder
Transmission: 7-speed PDK
Power: 500hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh530,300 as tested
On sale: Now

ROUTE TO TITLE

Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2

What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

ANATOMY OF A FALL

Director: Justine Triet

Starring: Sandra Huller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner

Rating: 5/5