The BG Energy Challenge 2007 – Egypt raised over $120,000 for charity in Upper Egypt. Held in Wadi El-Gimal National Park in the south east of Egypt by the Red Sea, over 140 participants, forming 25 teams, mostly from the energy sector, spent two days hiking and climbing mountains in the Wadi as well as taking part in competitive games between each climb.

The BG Energy Challenge, now in its fourth year in Egypt, is an event that attracts groups to undertake physical and mental challenges and raise money for disenfranchised areas of Egypt through fundraising events.
For those who take part in the event, not only is there a sense of achievement in completing the Challenge, but it fosters a sense of camaraderie and team spirit among the teams.  Each team is expected to raise, as a minimum, $ 4,000 to be able to participate in the Challenge.
This year’s Challenge was split into ‘caring’ or ‘daring’ routes to test team fitness and endurance levels.  The Wadi, in the eastern desert, is a harsh terrain for those not acclimatised to the heat and home to an array of reptiles and animals but little vegetation because the area has not experienced rainfall for several years.  The Challengers hiked about 12 kilometres each day and ascended peaks of up to 239 metres.
The Challengers were hosted at a camp, at the end of the first day’s Challenge, by the Bashayera and Ababda tribes, whose subsidence is dependent on the local desert area.
Over $120,000 has been pledged so far this year from the event which will be used to support the work of CARE Egypt, the organiser of BGE’s Energy Challenge.

(BG Press Release)