ABU DHABI // An Abu Dhabi football team is set to play twenty four one-hour games for 24 hours straight this weekend to raise money for charity.
A host team will have to fight fatigue in the GoFor24 charity event at Emirates Palace starting on Friday and ending on Saturday.
Organisers of the 24-hour football challenge hope to raise donations for the UAE chapter of Operation Smile, an international children’s charity that offers free surgery and aftercare to those affected by cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.
With last year’s inaugural event in Abu Dhabi raising tens of thousands of dirhams John Hassan, founder of GoFor24, said he hoped this year’s donations surpassed those of 2015.
“From the funds raised at our first GoFor24 we provided enough funds to change the lives of more than 100 children and help provide follow up care to increase their quality of life,” he said.
“This year we are hoping to increase our donations to raise enough funds to change the lives of more than 500 children or young adults.”
Mr Hassan said the host team will comprise of 30 players from the Abu Dhabi’s The English Bulldogs, a local amateur football team, with some of the volunteers working before and after their work shifts.
Places on the challenger teams are still available with players and teams able to register at GoFor24.com.
“What we are looking for are some passionate players to get a team together and sign up for what will be no ordinary game of football — in just one hour they can change lives.”
tsubaihi@thenational.ae
