Nasser Ibrahim a senior credit officer at RAKBank is leading the way when it comes to raising awareness about and helping autistic children.

The 28-year-old Dubai resident will lead a charity walk from Abu Dhabi International Airport to Dubai, beginning tonight, to raise money for the Dubai Autism Centre.

He will cover a distance of over 100km.

"I feel sad for autistic children in this country. We need to do something for them, raise awareness and make some contribution," Ibrahim said.

One in 90 children around the world suffers from autism to some degree according the Autism Centre, a non-profit organisation, which currently operates from a villa on Al Dhiyafa Road. The centre has a capacity for 48 children and youngsters and more than 160 patients are on its waiting list.

This is Ibrahim's fourth charity walk between the capital and Dubai, and he will have more companions than before – as many as 80 – on various stages of his journey.

Since 2004, he has walked between Abu Dhabi and Dubai to raise money for charities involved with trachoma, a blinding disease; for the Unicef effort to bring relief to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami; and for the SNF Children Development Centre for special-needs children in Dubai.

Ibrahim has battled extreme cold and hot weather during his walks. "The pain is more physical than mental," he said.

So far, only two or three people have confirmed they will walk the entire 100km with him this year.

The walk is mainly being sponsored by RAKBank, supported by Le Meridien Dubai and Dubai Eye.

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