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Bahraini adventurer Maha Mansoor will be in Nepal on the ‘Gulf for Good’ Everest Base Camp Challenge to raise funds for charity.
Reaching altitudes of 5,500m, the challenge between October 11 and 25, will take the assistant professor in finance at AMA International University to indigenous rhododendron forests; gushing rivers; high mountain meadows; glaciers and Sherpa villages on an extreme trek upwards to the foot of the world’s mightiest mountain.
This will be Maha’s third charity challenge with ‘Gulf for Good’ in as many years. Speaking about her past achievements she said: “When you’ve been given so much and have a comfortable life, why shouldn’t you give back?
“In 2005, I went trekking in Peru along the famous Inca Trail and last year I went hiking, mountain biking and horse trekking in Mongolia. For both of these adventures I had to reach a minimum fund-raising target for charity. Funds raised by all of the participants supported projects for underprivileged children in Peru and Mongolia,” she said.
“Anyone in good physical shape can take part in the Everest Base Camp Challenge and I’m really excited to be one of them,” said Maha.
“Although I’m now an experienced ‘charity challenger’, this is going to be the toughest yet – it will be an extreme test of character.
“I’m still fund-raising to reach the minimum target (BD1,435), which is a challenge in itself. I’m a sporty person by nature, but it’s important for me to get as fit as possible for the Everest Base Camp Challenge so that I can really enjoy the experience.”
Maha, 39, lives in A’ali, and has three children – Shgail, 20, studying in Germany, Daniel, 16, studying at Kingdom University Bahrain, and daughter Sh’en, 13.
Established in 2001, Gulf for Good (G4G) is a Dubai-based charity that invites participants from across the Gulf to join their adventure challenges and raise funds for needy, carefully-selected worthwhile causes.
Under the patronage of Dubai Civil Aviation president and Emirates Group chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, G4G has so far helped raise over $1 million.
Charity chairman Brian Wilkie said: “Participating in a Gulf for Good adventure challenge is about making a positive difference to the world. Maha is certainly setting a good example and we would love to have more people from Bahrain follow her lead and join our challenges.”
Funds raised by G4G’s first two expeditions to Base Camp in 2002 and 2004 facilitated the construction of the only hospital in a rural area of Nepal.
The Ilam Hospital is located in eastern Nepal in a region of approximately 400 thousand people living in 48 villages. In the past, this entire population was served by only one physician at a district hospital, so access to even basic healthcare was at best uncertain.
To continue and advance the good work at Ilam, participant funds will build an urgently needed maternity wing.
Funds will also support Child Welfare Scheme Nepal, a charity that supports and provides for disadvantaged children in Kathmandu.
To find out more about Gulf for Good and the Everest Base Camp Challenge, email admin@gulf4good.org, call 00971 4 368 0222 or visit www.gulf4good.org
