Gulf for Good Raises AED 400,000 for Classrooms in Tanzania
Latest challege was a trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro
Dubai, 14 July 2010
- The first of two groups of intrepid adventurers from the UAE-based charity, Gulf for Good (G4G), has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, at 5895m, the highest point of Africa, in very adverse conditions.
After 3 days of steady uphill trekking in good weather from 2,700 to 4,700m, unusually strong winds howling across open scree slopes made the final summit ascent difficult in the extreme. Hiking for 6 hours in darkness, with wind chill plunging temperatures down to -20C, the group reached the crater rim at sunrise, then forged on to reach the summit, Uhuru Peak (5,895m), at 8.15am last Thursday.
Adrian Hayes, UAE-based record-breaking adventurer and leader of this G4G group, accredited the success of the group to teamwork, "It was a total pleasure to lead this fantastic group of people. They all went well beyond their comfort zones doing something that was by far the hardest thing they had ever done. But, most importantly, they acted as a team. I am really proud of them all."
Nirvana Govender, a Business Development Director and member of the 20-strong G4G group, described the trek as "Life-Changing", while fellow challenger and editor of local All Woman magazine, Sharon Taylor-Jackson said, "This was the trip of a lifetime. I have some great memories which I shall cherish forever.... some pretty scary ones too!"
Amazingly, this was only the first of 2 groups to climb this awesome mountain. G4G opened a second group to cope with the large numbers of people wanting to take part - this second group are on the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro right now and report good health and excellent team spirits after the first 3 days of hiking. They are due to start for the summit early on Thursday morning.
G4G's other challenges this year have been equally popular, with two groups following the Lebanon Mountain Eco-Trail in May, a multi-activity group in northern Thailand in November and two groups also in November doing the Revolutionary Ride - a 5-day cycling challenge across Cuba.
Each G4G challenge not only tests the physical fitness of the participants, but also raises large sums of money for children's charities in the challenge host country. In Kilimanjaro's case, the more than AED 400,000 raised will be used to build desperately needed classrooms in Laishene Primary School in Monduli province of rural Tanzania, along with teacher's accommodation and sanitary facilities.
Both groups have visited the school and were amazed by their spirit and endurance, despite extreme poverty and overcrowding. The school even challenged both G4G groups to a football match, with the school's team winning both matches!
Brian Wilkie, Gulf for Good's Chairman, commented "I am extremely proud of these ordinary people who have done something quite extraordinary. Their dedication to training and fundraising will make an enormous difference to a struggling community in Africa."
About Gulf for Good:
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Gulf for Good organizes exciting adventure challenges around the world. To date, 28 G4G challenges, with over 550 participants from 36 countries, including many Gulf nationals, have raised more than US 1.5 million dollars for schools, hospitals, orphanages, and medical equipment in 17 countries across the Middle East, South America, Asia and Africa. To learn more visit www.gulf4good.org.
For further information, please
contact:
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with any of the Gulf for Good team, please contact Patricia Anderson, Communications Manager, Gulf for Good : 04-368-0222 or 050-2733-822
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