DUBAI // A Canadian expatriate will face his fears by plunging into the unknown next month during a skydive to raise awareness of leukaemia and funds for a charity.
Bashar Al Hussaini was 11 years old when he lost his father to the disease, which is a kind of blood cancer.
Now, when he sees his three-year-old son, Mr Al Hussaini misses his father's presence even more and wishes he was there to see his child grow up.
This led the Abu Dhabi-born and raised father to learn more about the disease. He discovered that the UAE does not have facilities to provide support to families affected by leukaemia or a database to match bone marrow donors to patients.
"People need to go outside the UAE to be tested, and for bone-marrow matching and transplants. There is a greater chance of finding a similar match in the same place so it is important to have these available here for Emiratis as well as expatriates," said the 34-year-old.
When his father was diagnosed with leukaemia, the family had to move from Abu Dhabi to Canada to seek treatment.
"This was in the early '90s and treatment in the UAE was limited. It was a difficult time for us. My mother used to teach Arabic and Islamic studies in Abu Dhabi but she could not teach these in Toronto. She had to work as a seamstress," he said.
In 2006, Mr Al Hussaini returned to work as an urban planner in Dubai, where he still lives with his wife and boy.
His experiences made him realise how important it is to have support groups for families.
"Unless people experience leukaemia or see their loved one's suffering, they don't really know about it," he said.
"Spouses and children should be advised about how they can ease the pain of the person who is suffering. Basic information should be explained to the family through visits to their home. It is tough to see your loved ones become a skeleton of their previous selves.
"My father used to be a weightlifter and, after suffering from leukaemia, he became so weak. Talking to families and ensuring that they feel they are not alone is important."
Mr Al Hussaini is raising funds for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada through a webpage where people can sponsor him. He will be undertaking a skydive at Skydive Dubai on November 14.
"I have never done a skydive before and this is a challenge for me. It's also symbolic as people have to face their fears when they are suffering from leukaemia and I will be facing mine," he said.
The plan is to raise US$10,000 (Dh36,700). "This money will be given to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada and will be used to conduct research on leukaemia. Also, the organisation provides support and counselling to sufferers and their families through brochures and visits to their homes."
The society collaborates with various universities and funds research into the disease.
"Pharmaceutical companies also do not want to invest in conducting researching on medicines for leukaemia as it is not cost-effective for them. The treatment is complicated. Through my endeavour I am trying to raise awareness about this disease." Mr Al Hussaini said.
"People still ask me questions like what leukaemia is and how one acquires it or how it is treated. People need to be made aware of this basic information."
Mr Al Hussaini said he approached charitable organisations with an interest in cancers in the UAE but got no response.
He hopes to see international research pooled together in the hope of finding a cure and counselling and support becoming more common in the UAE.
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arizvi2@thenational.ae
Man whose father died of leukaemia is conquering fears to raise awareness
Watching his three-year-old son grow reminds Bashar Al Hussaini of how he lost his father at a young age and has inspired him to skydive to raise funds and awareness of the blood cancer.
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