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Gulf for Good takes up challenge

ABU DHABI - Gulf for Good, the Dubai-based charity, is undertaking a Challenge Trek to the Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal during October.

The world's highest mountain range will be the setting for the charity's next major challenge adventure, a 15-day expedition in October this year. The strenuous 12-day trek in aid of Nepal's Ilam Hospital takes challengers through rhododendron forests, Sherpa villages and over chilled tumbling rivers, finally culminating well above the tree line at Base camp on the Khumbu glacier with views of the stunning snow-capped peaks.

"The Everest Base Camp Challenge will certainly be an adventure and one that is both physically and mentally demanding. Reaching altitudes of over 5,500 metres crossing high ridges and bridges and being surrounded by the giant mountains of the earth, this trek will undoubtedly be a memorable experience for those prepared to take on the challenge," said Brian Wilkie, Gulf for Good's Challenge Director.

Challengers will be split into two groups - the Lhotse Trek from October 1 to 15 and the Nuptse Trek from October 16 to 30 - both named after Everest's giant neighbours.

"Nepal's 21 million people are among the poorest in the world, mainly living in remote rural villages facing diseases and medical conditions brought about by malnutrition," stated Paul Oliver, Gulf for Good's Charity Director. "Funds raised through our Base Camp Challenge in 2002, over $130,000 supported the building of the first community hospital at Ilam in Eastern Nepal, which opened earlier this year. The hospital has already made a huge difference to the health of around 300,000 people in the area," he added.

The money raised by this year's charity challengers will go towards the extension of that core health service into isolated and inaccessible villages and mountainous areas.

In line with previous events, participants on the Everest Base Camp Challenge will need to pay a Dh1,500 registration fees and then raise a minimum of Dh12,000 sponsorship money. Numbers are strictly limited to a total of 50 challengers.

Gulf for Good was established in 2001 and operates under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates Group. The trek to Everest will be Gulf for Good's tenth Challenge. Past challenges have involved people of 29 nationalities who have raised over two million dirhams for good causes in the countries which host the Challenges.

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