9-year-old abandons crutches after taking up Dubai Fitness Challenge

Dubai - "The police team came to our home to train my son in different sports."

A nine-year-old boy walked without using his crutches for the first time after he took on the recently-concluded Dubai Fitness Challenge. A special police team had helped the boy take up the challenge - a flagship initiative of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The child, Mayed Al Baloushi - who suffers from osteosclerosis, a disorder that is characterised by abnormal hardening of bone and an elevation in bone density - even surprised his doctor after he abandoned his crutches. The doctor had opined that he would walk only after a surgery.

When the mother came to know about the fitness challenge, she requested the police to help her son take up sports to beat the crutches. The challenge, which ran from October 26 to November 24, required residents to adopt a 30-minute physical activity for 30 days.

"The police team came to our home to train my son in different sports. The training during the course of the challenge helped improve my son's health. Mayed now has a lot of positive energy," said the mother. She expressed gratitude to the police for helping her son.

The police have honoured the boy and the team that guided him through the 30-day challenge.

reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai Fitness Challenge
• Dubai