Fifty Saudi athletes, businessmen and community volunteers began on Monday a trip around the Kingdom in cooperation with the Zahra Association for Breast Cancer with the aim of promoting tourism, sports and social responsibility in Saudi Arabia. The 12-day tour under the theme “Journey for the Kingdom” has the approval of Prince Sultan Bin Fahd, head of the General Presidency for Youth Welfare, and is supported by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities to boost tourism in the Kingdom. Saudi Gazette spoke by phone to Anwar Ahmad Helmi, the tour coordinator, who explained what the group hoped to achieve. “We are planning to visit some of the Kingdom's well-known tourist locations on motorcycles and bicycles to draw attention to the nation's tourism potential,” said Helmi. The second aim of the trip, he added, is to promote the concept of social responsibility by supporting charitable associations dealing with issues, such as cancer patients, children's rights, and breast cancer. “We are working in cooperation with the Zahra Association for Breast Cancer in an attempt to highlight social responsibility, sports and tourism at the same time,” he explained. “As we travel around the Kingdom, we will visit orphanages and disabled associations, launch awareness campaigns on cancer, and distribute gifts containing social responsibility messages to children in parks and malls,” added Helmi. The Zahra Association for Breast Cancer spoke of the importance of the “Journey for the Kingdom” tour. “It is the first time that such a program has been launched in the Kingdom and we feel that it will help increase awareness of breast cancer in the Kingdom and the importance of early detection of the disease,” said Handai Al-Otha, director of the breast cancer association. The tour which started in Riyadh will continue to Al-Kharj, Al-Afalj, Abha, Al-Qunfuda, Al-Baha, Taif, Makkah, Jeddah, Rabegh, Al-Ula, Yanbu, Skaka, Ha'el, Onaiza, Dammam and Hufuf.
