Three expatriates head for the Alps to raise funds for X-Ray machine

Dubai: The icy slopes of Europe's mountains are far from the ensuing heat of the Dubai summer. This hasn't dissuaded three expatriates from the emirate from planning to climb two mountains in Europe for a good cause.

Aaron Heather, Ali Mohmadi and Rory Wallace, who work for international construction company Turner and Townsend, are planning to climb Mont Blanc and Matterhorn in the Alps to raise funds to provide an X-Ray machine for the medical centre at Al Ihsan Charity Centre, Ajman.

The centre currently supports around 300 orphans and 6,000 families, under the mission 'Women without a breadwinner and children without a caretaker'.

Mohmadi, 35, a British, said: "There is a sense of urgency about the X-Ray machine. It's something quite physical, [something] that the people can see, so they will be able to view the benefits of it in the community straightaway." The centre was founded in 1990.

Heather, 35, a New Zealander, said: "The X-Ray room at the centre was donated by an individual and has been ready for about six months. All they need now is the actual machine."

Funding

The medical centre was established in 2003 and treated 43,500 patients in 2007. It provides medical treatment free of charge to registered families and children, as well as gives low-cost medical examinations to members of the community.

The trio is hoping to raise Dh60,000 for the machine. Funding for the trip has been partly sponsored by Turner and Townsend, and the climbers are off-setting the rest of the trip costs personally, so that all donations go directly to the charity.

All three are keen trekkers and mountaineers, with experience in the UAE, New Zealand, Europe and the Americas. They will be spending a couple of nights atop Oman's Jebel Shams mountain (around 3,000ft) to acclimatise to the altitude and set off on the European trip in the middle of July. They plan to reach the summit of Mont Blanc on July 17 and the Matterhorn on July 21.

Wallace, 28, South African, said: "The good thing with the Alps is that they've got a very good hut network. There will be very little that we have to carry other than what we'll be wearing and clothing for unforeseen circumstances and daily supplies for walking. We won't ever be too far away from the safety of a hut."

Three months of intense training is being undertaken by the climbers, two of whom do rock climbing most weekends in the northern emirates.

At a recent fundraising events, attendees donated Dh10,000 to the cause.

Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, CEO, Al Ihsan Charity, said at the event: "The opportunity that has come with the three gentlemen is a beautiful idea, combining adventure, combining charity, combining a challenge. For these people, I have high respect. We can do a lot of charity in our lives to keep us moving and part of the community. We like to be in our comfort zone and these three are doing something out of their comfort zone. Don't complain, don't compare, don't criticise. Give more, love more and learn more."

These three are doing something out of their comfort zone. ... Give more, love more and learn more."

Seeking sponsors

The trekkers are currently looking for X-Ray machine manufacturers and corporate sponsorship is welcome, along with donations from the public.

For more information, visit: www.3-2-1challenge.com.