Skiing a million metres for Lebanon

In this exciting adventure, participants will be based in Chamonix at the base of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, and ski on successive days in Verbier in Switzerland; Courmayeur in Italy, and finally Chamonix itself. The aim is to have a group of 50 skiers, ranging from intermediate-level to expert, ski an accumulative total of 1,000,000 metres downhill on some of the world's most renowned slopes in 3 days.

Gulf for Good has completed 20 challenges in 14 countries in its 5 years of existence, raising well over a million dollars for good causes in the process, and the ethos is normally to raise funds for charities in the area where the challenges are held. However, in this case it has been decided to make an exception, as Gulf for Good's Chairman, Brian Wilkie explains, "We had been planning a ski challenge in Lebanon in 2007, but this sadly cannot happen due to current circumstances. We have therefore changed the venue to Europe, but the funds raised will still go towards charities helping orphaned and disadvantaged children in Lebanon. "

This will be Gulf for Good's first challenge in Europe, and as one of the six people already signed up for the challenge said, "I heard that Verbier is one of the world's best places to ski, Courmayeur is beautiful and Chamonix is the capital of Alpine sport so I'm definitely up for this adventure. Bearing in mind recent events, helping kids in Lebanon is a great cause and I would have loved to have done a challenge there, but this is a pretty good substitute."

Prospective challengers will be required to raise a minimum amount of sponsorship to take part, must be able to comfortably ski red runs, and be reasonably fit. They will be accompanied at all times by a local team of experienced instructors/guides, and will experience some of the best ski slopes that the world has to offer, in the company of like-minded individuals. However, Gulf for Good Challenge Director Andy Jackson sounded a note of caution. "It's not a holiday. We'll be skiing something like 30 pistes over the 3 days, and it will require plenty of determination and stamina for the team to cover the million metres. Start training now."