(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) A Dubai-based desert explorer will walk, non-stop - while fasting - between the Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi and Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai, to raise awareness about the less fortunate and the work of the Al Jalila Foundation.
The explorer, Italian national Max Calderan, is no stranger to seemingly impossible feats of physical endurance. In March, for instance, he set out on foot to cover 340km of the Tropic of Cancer, between the Saudi and Omani borders in the UAE. His latest journey will see him cover 150km between the two mosques, from midnight on Thursday to midnight on Friday - including the daylight hours in which he''ll be abstaining from food and water. Speaking to Khaleej Times, Calderan - who has also run 250km across the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt while fasting - said he isn''t particularly concerned about the physical aspects of the Dubai-Abu Dhabi trek. "In my style, I will try to do it in less than 24 hours," he said. "It''s no problem for me. I''m used to it. "Compared to other trips, this is very easy. I''ll be walking close to the main road the entire time," he added. "This is more a personal journey." When asked what is motivating him to undertake such an arduous trip, Calderan noted that he wants people to think about the underprivileged. "People who say they can''t fast need to understand that there are people who can''t eat or drink, or are in the hospital," he said. "I also want to do this to raise awareness on the Al Jalila Foundation and the children in Al Zahra Hospital. "There are children that are not so lucky," he added. "We need to give them support." Additionally, to show their support for Calderan''s efforts and the Al Jalila Foundation, Italian water company Monviso has pledged to to collect and recycle empty bottles, and donate the net return from the sale of these bottles to the Al Jalila Foundation. Additionally, Calderan said he hoped that his effort will encourage UAE residents - Muslims and non-Muslims alike - to use Ramadan as a period to reflect. "Fasting is a good exercise to understand the deprivation of something that we always have," he said. "When something is missing, like food or water, we really understand its importance. "During Ramadan we can consider helping someone who is living their life in deprivation to healthcare, rights, water," he said. "Our support can change their lives in a better way, God willing." - Bernd Debusmann Jr. Originally from Mexico City, I''ve been in Dubai since January 2015. Before arriving in in the UAE I worked as a general news reporter in TV and print in Mexico City, NYC and Washington DC. I''m interested in defence issues, politics, technology, aviation and history. In my spare time i enjoy traveling and football - I''m a keen fan of Chelsea FC. I developed an interest in the Middle East traveling through Jordan and the West Bank. I have a BA in Political Science from Dickinson College in the USA and an MA in International Journalism from City University London.