DUBAI // Trekking the world’s highest mountain or kayaking in mangrove rivers in the Philippines are rewarding experiences on their own – but a charity is helping adventurous residents to sponsor children’s education and health care while they do it.
Gulf for Good has organised more than 50 adventure challenges since 2001, raising more than US$2.5 million (Dh9.1m) for schools, hospitals, orphanages and medical equipment in 23 countries.
The purpose of the challenges is to help people in the Arabian Gulf do unusual and physically challenging things while helping underprivileged children.
“Every participant raises sponsorship money that is used to support selected children’s charities in the countries where the challenges take place,” said Tricia Evans, strategy governor at Gulf for Good.
“We encourage individuals as well as organisations to travel to locations and challenge themselves to great adventures.”
Apart from paying the registration fee, participants raise sponsorship funds for the selected charity.
Last year, three of the challenges supported construction of new classrooms in Laos and Tanzania, and building safe housing for women in rural Morocco, while a challenge in Mongolia helped to build of a medical centre for underprivileged children.
Although each challenge is different, people need to be physically fit and are informed about the difficulty level of the task.
Hiking, horse riding, cycling, kayaking and trekking have been part of the many challenges taken on in the name of adventure and humanity.
The challenge now open for registration is "In the footsteps of Lawrence", which will take place in Jordan between October 27 and November 7. Details can be found on the charity's website gulf4good.org.
Abu Dhabi resident Sandra Grenet, 41, has taken part in several challenges so far – at Kilimanjaro, Peru, India and Uganda.
She took part in her first multi-activity challenge in Oman in 2006. “I had always wanted to do something for charity but never knew what to do,” the Frenchwoman said.
“I thought, why not discover Musandam from a different angle, doing something I had never done – kayaking?
“The challenge in Oman supported an association for the blind in Oman and my brother was born visually impaired, so the challenge did strike a chord with me.”
The research and development professional said that the children in Oman welcomed her with huge smiles and songs.
“I felt a pinch in my stomach and tears in my eyes. It’s hard to describe it, you have to live it to understand it,” she said. “We often get so caught up with work, stress, deadlines, that we miss the whole purpose of life, which is giving and loving.
“It seems that the more we have, the less happy we are. These challenges are a great way to remember our core values and put us back on track.”
Dubai resident Gerard Gabriel believes that “anyone with a thirst for adventure and a soul brimming full of compassion” should take on a challenge.
“I know I can’t wait for my son to turn 16, so we can go together on our first challenge,” said the 53-year-old Australian, who is originally from Lebanon.
Mr Gabriel has taken part in three challenges, starting with Kilimanjaro in July 2012, Machu Picchu in July 2013 and Mongolia in October last year.
He discovered Gulf for Good in 2011, when his friend trekked to Everest base camp for a challenge.
At Kilimanjaro in 2012, the group spent a day with the charity they were supporting, Amani (which means hope in Swahili) Children’s Foundation.
“It was a humbling experience to see their happiness,” the construction and architecture professional said.
“We shared their food, played football, watched a show they put on. The smiles they offered us alone would have made the trip worthwhile.”
arizvi2@thenational.ae
