Gulf for Good Alpine Ski Challenge set for March 2008

Funds raised by participants on The Alpine Ski Challenge will support orphans at the non-profit SOS Children's Villages Ksarnaba restoration project in Lebanon.

In this exciting adventure, participants will be based in Chamonix at the base of Mont Blanc in the French Alps, and will 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 over 3 days on some of the world's most renowned slopes.

Part of the Gulf for Good ethos is that funds raised by participants should normally support a cause in the region where the challenge takes place.

Chairman and co-founder, Brian Wilkie explains why this particular adventure will be different 'We've wanted to have a ski challenge in and for Lebanon for many years, but this sadly cannot happen in the current circumstances. We've therefore made an exception in this case by organizing the actual skiing in Europe - but the funds raised will still support a very worthwhile cause in Lebanon.'

Challenge Director, Andy Jackson added, 'This is going be G4G's first-ever skiing challenge. Participants will ski on or near to Mont Blanc, which at 4,808m is the highest mountain in Western Europe. They will also ski at and in Verbier which is one of the best places to ski anywhere in the world, plus Courmayeur which is stunning and Chamonix which is the undeniably the capital of Alpine sport.'

He continued, 'It's not a holiday though. We'll be skiing more than 30 different pistes in varying conditions over the 3 days, and it will require plenty of determination and stamina for the team to cover the million metres. Start training now!'

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. Accompanied at all times by a local team of experienced instructors/guides, participants will ski some of the best slopes in the world, in the company of like-minded individuals.