Three-day ultra-marathon covered 230KM across Oman waters in aid of IHG Shelter in a Storm
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 13 December 2016: Two employees from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) yesterday completed a paddling ultra-marathon, dubbed the ‘Capital Paddle’, covering 230 kilometres (KM) over three days in aid of the hotel group’s disaster relief programme, IHG Shelter in a Storm.
This is the second time the duo – Damian ten Bohmer, Director, Commercial; and Angelo Vassiliades, Commercial Marketing Executive for Middle East & Africa – has undergone this intensive marathon to raise funds for the company's disaster relief programme. This year, they covered 30 percent more distance compared to their 180-km paddle in the UAE last year where they paddled over 25 hours across three days and raised more than US$3,500 for the IHG Shelter Fund.
The pair began their marathon at Crowne Plaza Sohar on Thursday, 10 December 2015 and finished at Crowne Plaza Muscat on Saturday, 12 December 2015. The effort of the task can be compared to walking up and down the Burj Khalifa (which has more than 2,900 steps across 16 flights) 15 times, or running nearly four marathons at a pace of slightly over six-minutes-per-kilometre.
Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said, “Damian and Angelo have once again demonstrated tremendous drive and strength in completing their second 'Capital Paddle' and the money they have raised will have a real impact on the lives of those in need across the globe. It is no mean feat to complete such a vast distance over three days and we are very proud of what they have achieved."
The 'Capital Paddle' follows activities earlier in the year to raise funds for the IHG Shelter Fund, including the hotel group’s week-long global awareness event, Race Around the World, which saw IHG colleagues across the UAE and Saudi Arabia complete more than 2,500 activities to raise funds for the programme.
"Over the past three days we faced some of the toughest weather conditions we’ve ever paddled in but we also came across the warmest, most welcoming people and enjoyed a long stretch of beautiful coastline along the way," said Angelo.
"Combining our passion for paddling with a great cause makes the whole experience much more rewarding and enjoyable. This year we stretched ourselves by covering even more distance but knowing what we do goes towards helping others in need makes it all worthwhile," said Damian.
"We'd like to express our thanks and appreciation to Royal Oman Police, Oman Ministry of Sports Affairs, Oman Bureau of Meteorology, Jonathan Ayliffe Design Studio and the Crowne Plaza hotels in Muscat, Sohar and Dubai – Deira for all their assistance and support. Of course, the support of our colleagues was paramount to our success and we want to salute everyone who's pledged and carried out activities to raise funds for IHG Shelter in a Storm," he added.
IHG has 75 hotels open across five brands in the Middle East: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites. The company has a further 28 hotels due to open in the region over the next three to five years, including the world's largest Holiday Inn in Makkah, the 5,154-room Holiday Inn Makkah Abraaj Al Tayseer.
To find out more about IHG Shelter in a Storm, visit www.ihgshelterinastorm.com.
