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It is a few years now since a very much over weight Tanvir Shah rolled up one Saturday night at the predictor and announced that he wanted to train up to run a half marathon. He didn't look like he could run for a bus let alone a lap of Safa Park. But he stuck at it and now several half and full marathons later he is running in next weeks New York marathon.
Tanvir has chosen to use the occasion raise money for one of the less fashionable, but most deserving of charities, The Angel Appeal. Under the cover of the Mission to Sea Farers the charity provides support for the seamen who work on the vessels which pass by the UAE. As they travel the world, many of these seamen have no right to enter the countries they stop at. Contact with their families is difficult and they are often not afforded the basic rights we take for granted in the country we live in. Yet we are all dependant on sea freight for the very existence we have. For more details read below or go to www.angelappeal.com
To sponsor Tanvir go to: http://www.angelappeal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55
About The Angel
The East Coast of the UAE is the second largest Bunker Anchorage in the world with 100 to 150 ships anchored off shore at any given time. Every year, over 10,500 ships carrying a host of supplies and over 200,000 seafarers drop anchor in the East Coast waters of the Emirates. They are representative of the ships that deliver an amazing 99.3% of all UAE imports - our every day necessities, luxuries and comforts.
Many of the seafarers on board ships anchored here do not get the opportunity to come ashore. A large number of these vessels can be up to 18 miles out and it is too costly for the seafarers or their companies to consider shore-leave. The seafarers remain on board their ships off the coast of Fujairah and many are without the basic facilities on board that we take for granted. As a result, it is common for seafarers to go through long periods of isolation and loneliness, unable to communicate with family and friends at home.
In response to this problem, The Mission to Seafarers, Dubai, launched the Angel Appeal in 2006 to build and equip a boat to support as many seafarers as they could possibly reach. The M/V Flying Angel was built by Albwardy Marine in Al Jadaf, in under 10 months and at a cost of $1million. This achievement was only possible due to the generous and continued support of our kind donors.
The MV Flying Angel is the first Seafarers Support Boat of its kind in the world, recognized within the maritime industry and winner of Seatrade’s ‘Investment in People’ Global Award 2008.
She operates 7 days a week during daylight hours and services on average 75 seafarers per day (over 2000 per month). She is equipped with:
•E-mail and telephone facilities to enable seafarers to call home
•A small shop for seafarers to buy essential items not available on their ships
•A Welfare Officer with a sympathetic ear and the ability to help solve seafarers' problem
•Book and DVD Libraries
•A place to relax, chat and unwind
Since her launch, the M/V Flying Angel has helped thousands of seafarers from around the world:-
"I have not seen pictures of my new born baby for 5 months as we are not allowed to download large picture files on our ship. It is so good to see her growing. I wish I was there but this is the next best thing. Thank you."
A Honduran seafarer
"There are very few places we can step down from our ship. On the route we are on from Saudi to East Asia…This is the first time I have stepped down from the ship in 6 months."
A Russian Captain
"Brilliant….just brilliant! Please come back soon!"
A Danish Master
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