A Dubai schoolgirl embraced her passion for dance to raise Dh63,000 to support breast cancer patients after being inspired to step up for the cause by her great grandmother's battle with the disease.
Reyna Mehta, 16, a pupil at Jumeirah College, who has trained in the Indian dance Bharatanatyam since she was seven, organised and took part in a performance featuring a cast of cancer survivors. Her dance teacher helped to choreograph the show.
The money was donated to the Al Jalila Foundation, a non-profit healthcare organisation carrying out key work in the fight against cancer via YallaGive, the first licensed online donation and crowdfunding platform in the Middle East.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UAE, with about 4,500 cases reported each year.
“When my great grandmother, 90 years old, got diagnosed with breast cancer, I could see, initially she was weak but after around a month, she was back to her normal life,” said Reyna.
"That's when I realised that cancer doesn't have to be a barrier. You don't need to stop your life because you've been diagnosed with cancer.”
Charitable drive
Reyna started a YallaGive link and raised Dh50,000 within the first three weeks, she said. By the end of October, she had raised Dh63,000.
The dance show was held at Majlis Al Amal, the Al Jalila Foundation's cancer drop-in centre dedicated to supporting female patients.
“We had four dancers who were cancer survivors at Majlis Al Amal and for a month before the performance, we would practise and dance with them," said Reyna.
The money raised will help UAE-based female cancer patients receive the treatment they need through Al Jalila Foundation's A’awen patient care programme.
“These women are survivors, and they are still dancing...some of them had not danced since high school, some of them hadn't danced in years, but still, when it came to this, I saw their resilience," she said.
"I saw the way they pushed themselves. They had bad days and sometimes they weren't feeling well, they had chemotherapy, but they still made it to practice, and they still worked harder than any of us to make sure that that the dance was perfect.
“It just showed me that if you put your head mind to something, nothing can stop you, no matter what happens and no matter what obstacles you face."
Dr Amer Al Zarooni, chief executive of Al Jalila Foundation, praised the young charity champion for her efforts.
“The unwavering support from our community is the lifeline that enables us to bring care, spread hope, and empower patients," he said.
"When a young advocate like Reyna steps forward, her compassion sends a powerful message that resonates beyond our walls, inspiring positivity and unity across the community.
"Her efforts not only provide essential resources, but also remind us of all of the incredible strength found in collective compassion.’’
Anjana Ketty, Reyna’s dance teacher, said: "I have known Reyna for the past eight years and this has been her dream project as she had a personal reason for helping cancer patients.
"The brilliant idea of bringing three styles of genres and including members of Al Jalila Foundation in the performance was Reyna’s."
Dedicated to helping others
Reyna has long advocated for women’s causes and organised workshops for girls in underprivileged areas of India.
She created a 10-session syllabus on menstrual awareness for girls aged 12 to 18, which she has been using for almost two years to teach underprivileged girls, virtually and in-person, all over India. The syllabus is now being certified and is being distributed to schools in disadvantaged areas globally through an Indian organisation. The syllabus covers the menstrual cycle, body changes and hygiene.
She said her goal was to help girls understand that their financial situation did not stop them from living life and neither did they need to skip school when they had their period.
Lucy Bruce, founder of Harmony House, a non-governmental organisation in India that Ms Mehta approached for support, said: "When Reyna took her first session I think everybody was really surprised how quickly the groups felt really comfortable.
"I think there was a lot of information, a lot of dialogue around the taboo that these girls live within while they're on their menstrual cycles and I think that was very eye-opening for Reyna as well.
"I think that's really important if somebody is volunteering that if you're sharing your knowledge, your skills, your experience but you're also learning as well from a group of students who live very differently to what we do."
The winners
Fiction
- ‘Amreekiya’ by Lena Mahmoud
- ‘As Good As True’ by Cheryl Reid
The Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award
- ‘Syrian and Lebanese Patricios in Sao Paulo’ by Oswaldo Truzzi; translated by Ramon J Stern
- ‘The Sound of Listening’ by Philip Metres
The George Ellenbogen Poetry Award
- ‘Footnotes in the Order of Disappearance’ by Fady Joudah
Children/Young Adult
- ‘I’ve Loved You Since Forever’ by Hoda Kotb
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
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- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Saturday's results
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
Arsenal 2-2 Southampton
Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves
Brighton 0-2 Leicester City
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
Everton 0-2 Norwich City
Watford 0-3 Burnley
Manchester City v Chelsea, 9.30pm
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ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
UAE Falcons
Carly Lewis (captain), Emily Fensome, Kelly Loy, Isabel Affley, Jessica Cronin, Jemma Eley, Jenna Guy, Kate Lewis, Megan Polley, Charlie Preston, Becki Quigley and Sophie Siffre. Deb Jones and Lucia Sdao – coach and assistant coach.
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The biog
Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi
Favourite TV show: That 70s Show
Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving
Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can
Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home
Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
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All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Saturday
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla (3pm)
Alaves v Real Madrid (6.15pm)
Malaga v Athletic Bilbao (8.30pm)
Girona v Barcelona (10.45pm)
Sunday
Espanyol v Deportivo la Coruna (2pm)
Getafe v Villarreal (6.15pm)
Eibar v Celta Vigo (8.30pm)
Las Palmas v Leganes (8.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Valencia (10.45pm)
Monday
Real Betis v Levante (11.pm)
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The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
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Starring: Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett, Tina Fey
Directed by: Pete Doctor
Rating: 4 stars
Day 2, stumps
Pakistan 482
Australia 30/0 (13 ov)
Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings