Dubai Duty Free Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Colm McLoughlin along with Ramesh Cidambi, COO, congratulated its two shopfloor employees who have scaled the highest summit of the tallest free-standing mountain in the world – Mount Kilimanjaro. The climb was part of the operations on-going support for the Dubai-based charity organisation, Gulf For Good (G4G), which raised AED400,444 for charity on this trip.

The amount raised - which includes a Dubai Duty Free contribution, will be donated to two charities namely, the Larchfield Charity Organization to help build and operate a purpose built children’s home, initially for 60 children, but phased to accommodate eventually up to 300 in Dar es Salaam and the Foundation of African Empowerment (FAE), to help build three classrooms to give an additional 200 students access to quality education at the Enjoro Maasai Village in Northern Tanzania.

The two Dubai Duty Free employees, Reuben Wanjiku (Beauty Consultant) and Binaya Regmi (Sales Assistant), along with 43 like-minded adventurers completed the 9-day (5th – 13th July) trekking challenge packed with fun and adventure. This extreme test of fitness at high altitude to summit Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters remains the highest point in all Africa and makes Kilimanjaro a universal landmark and an adventurer’s dream.

The two employees underwent three months training to build fitness and stamina through a variety of weekly sessions.

Colm McLoughlin said,' We are delighted to be a part of another successful event supporting Gulf for Good and its two sponsored charities. I couldn’t be prouder of our employees and their dedication to giving back. Year after year, we have staff stepping forward to actively participate in different charitable initiatives which raise much needed funds for worthy causes.'

The challenge also gave them an opportunity to visit the Enjoro Primary School in Northern Tanzania and spend time interacting with the children and meeting staff, seeing firsthand how the funds raised will be used to benefit the students.

Through its Corporate Responsibility Department, Dubai Duty Free supports a great number of worthy causes and is particularly keen to work with causes that benefit the lives of children.

This is the fourth time that Dubai Duty Free have participated in the Gulf for Good Challenge which included The Great Asian Cycling Challenge in Vietnam and Cambodia, The High Atlas Challenge held in Morocco and The Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal.