Latest news with #trek
The National
05-08-2025
- The National
100 young residents to be selected for 1,000km camel trek across UAE desert
One hundred people will be invited to take part in a 1,000-kilometre trek across the UAE desert, designed to explore and reflect on the country's heritage, customs and traditional craftsmanship. Organised by the Emirates Foundation and Active Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the journey will be completed on foot and by camel over the course of 30 days later this year. The initiative, titled Misrah, is open to UAE citizens and residents aged 18 to 25. Participants will undergo a two-month training programme in Abu Dhabi before setting off on an expedition that will take them across the country's dunes, coastal edges and mountainous terrain. With the full itinerary to be revealed closer to the date, 500 shortlisted applicants will begin their training at Abu Dhabi's Police Camel Camp from August 19 to September 21 with the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority. The programme includes introductory courses in camel care, saddle assembly and Emirati oral storytelling, as well as folk dances including the Ayala, Al Harbiya and Taghrooda. Other sessions will cover aspects of Emirati traditional practices, including campfire gatherings and coffee preparation. Upon completion of the course, 100 participants will be selected for the journey. Registration is open to those already signed up on 'Misrah marks an inspiring milestone in our efforts to empower youth and reinforce their connection to national identity,' said Active Abu Dhabi chairman Mansour Al Dhaheri. 'We encourage young citizens and residents to take part in this exceptional experience, which will help shape their character, enhance their skills and deepen their appreciation for the richness of Emirati heritage.' Misrah follows last year's Walk 1000, a community initiative that saw 10 athletes trek 1,000 kilometres over 30 days, from Al Sila to Al Wathba in Abu Dhabi. Along the way, participants passed more than 30 cultural landmarks across the emirate. A documentary chronicling the journey is currently in production. 'Misrah is more than just an initiative; it is a message to every young man and woman that our past serves as a source of inspiration for our future,' Al Dhaheri said when announcing the programme in May. 'Health is not only physical, but also resides in the soul, connected to a strong identity and authentic community awareness.'
Khaleej Times
05-08-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE residents can soon trek through the desert with camels; here's how
Do you think you have what it takes to complete a 1,000 km trek across the UAE desert? Active Abu Dhabi has launched a new initiative called Misrah, in which 100 participants will complete a 1,000 km heritage journey across the nation, on foot and using traditional modes of transportation. The trek promises to be a challenging but rewarding way to immerse yourself in Emirati culture and heritage, while learning new skills and exploring the country. Training sessions This exciting opportunity unfolds over two phases: a training phase and then the actual trek. The first phase will see 500 participants selected from a pool of applicants. If you are part of this group, you will be trained on the fundamentals of camel riding, Emirati traditional crafts, and folk arts. The training modules are designed to immerse participants in authentic Emirati heritage. You will get to directly interact and care for camels, while learning about camel anatomy, how to assemble camel saddles, and how to use traditional tools such as water bags and saddle straps. Workshops on Emirati folk arts such as traditional performances, the art of welcoming guests, traditional campfire gathering, Emirati coffee preparation, and oral storytelling and folktales will be held during this phase. At the end of this phase, 100 participants will be chosen to advance to the second stage: the 1,000 km heritage trek across the UAE desert over 30 days. Who can participate? Misrah is open to UAE citizens and residents of all nationalities aged 18 to 25. It is set to officially launch on August 21, 2025. The training sessions will be held four days a week from 4pm to 8pm, and will run until October 19. More details can be found on the Active Abu Dhabi website.
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
What Bolton man is facing as he treks 100km trek across Sahara Desert
A local man is planning a gruelling trek across the Sahara Desert to raise money for a good cause. Colm Allsop, 25, from Little Lever, will be embarking on the 100km walk to raise money for Crisis UK, a charity which helps homeless people. He said that on average a homeless person can walk between 20 and 32km every day. Colm, who is a customer journey manager at Lloyds Bank, said: "Homelessness affects more people than many realise - it's not just people on the streets - it can be people in temporary accommodation or couch surfing. "Especially now with the cost-of-living crisis and the price of rent. "My mum works in social housing so she sees first hand many of the issues we're facing. "I work in Manchester a couple of times a week and going there, and even walking through Bolton town centre, you see the amount of homeless people on the streets." Aiming for a goal of £4k, Colm hopes the money will be able to fund Crisis' Skylight Centres - which provide vital services for the homeless. Colm Allsop (Image: Colm Allsop) He said: "They help with things such as education and mental health support, as well as housing, and help people to not just survive - but thrive." Colm will set off on November 22 to Morocco where the four-and-a-half day trek will take place. He said: "I've heard some really good things about the food and one of the locals will be guiding us through. "I know one of the guys who's done this before and he said that the food he cooks in the middle of the desert is fantastic." Colm said he's a runner but just preparing for the walk will be a challenge in itself. He said: "A lot of training goes into it - imagine the heat for one - walking through the sand, and all the dunes. "We'll be camping out in the desert in the night, with snakes, bugs and all the things you don't want to find. Have a story? Get in touch at "It will be about making sure to keep yourself hydrated and avoiding burns from the sun. "I've a couple of runs at the end of this year - the Manchester half-marathon in October and then the Rome half-marathon a week after. "Preparing for the heat is part of the reason I signed up for Rome - my plan is if I'm fit enough for that I'll be fit enough for the Sahara." Colm will be holding a comedy night to help raise money (Image: Colm Allsop) READ MORE: Friends of Moss Bank Park Bolton celebrate 25th anniversary READ MORE: Lagan's Foundation gets £2,000 boost from charity quiz night READ MORE: Lifelong volunteers recognised for 30 years of service Colm said he's holding other events to try and reach his goal - including a comedy night at Dunscar Conservative Club. The night will star Bolton comedian Ben Lawes and two other acts, as well as a raffle. It will be held on Friday, August 15, with entry set at £15 per person, and tickets can be bought by contacting Colm on 07377622935.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Britain's Got Talent star who shot to fame years ago after a VERY emotional moment on stage has quit his day job to take on another massive feat
A former Britain's Got Talent star singer has quit his day job to walk to the Alps wearing ski boots. Reuben Gray was catapulted to fame in 2017 aged just 16, after a clip of his emotional audition went viral, racking up more than 38million views. The video shows audience members in tears as Reuben's father, who had told him he couldn't attend due to work abroad, unexpectedly appears in the crowd. Moments later, the teenager performs an original song he wrote about his girlfriend, earning a standing ovation from all four judges. Now, aged 24, Reuben is back in the spotlight for a very different reason. Reuben along with fellow Devon native and Exeter University alumnus Matt Brinkley, 24, have left behind the security of a nine-to-five to take on a grueling 801-mile trek from London to Val Thorens for charity. It's a challenge that would test even elite athletes - and they've raised the bar even higher by committing to do it wearing notoriously uncomfortable footwear. The duo hope to raise £35,000 for two organisations: Macmillan Cancer Support, which helps people living with cancer, and Snow Camp, which supports young people through snow sports. They're also using the journey to promote King of the Hill, their new app designed to make planning adventure trips simple. Rueben, who quit music to focus on the project, told MailOnline he expects to be in 'agony' from day one of the 45-day journey and that medical professionals have warned him he could sustain serious injuries. 'My cousin's a doctor, and he said we have a possibility of breaking our legs or having shin splints, we have a possibility of a hairline fracture, that sort of stuff on our on our legs. We have a possibility of ending up with sort of gangrene', he said. But, the duo have a point to prove and are determined to demonstrate how ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. 'It's about smiling through the pain and about having a good time. Even though it might suck I'm still doing it with my best friend. I'm doing it for something bigger than just myself only. 'We're only a small part in what these amazing charities do. And we're just trying to help that', Rueben said. He added: 'Loads of people do these crazy challenges. But the difference with them is they are all professional athletes, so they're all at that level where they're so fit, they're it's obvious they're going to be able to complete it. 'And so Matt and I decided to do exactly what our app's about, which is about getting normal people to do loads of fun stuff together.' Rueben also revealed how the pair have done very little training and the training they have doing has left them with 'bleeding, blistered' feet. 'It's been very busy, so it's been difficult to do as much training as we want to do. And we're very scared on that sense. But we've walked around in ski boots and our feet were blistered and bleeding', Rueben said. And, it isn't only injuries the pair have to worry about as just two days before they set off on June 13, a spanner was thrown into the works. Their driver, who was meant to accompany them and carry essential supplies, pulled out of the project. This means the pair will now have to camp in tents rather than sleep in a van like they had initially planned. 'We're going to be staying in tents for 45 days. It's going to be like, as tough as it gets. But I think Matt and myself are the sort of guys that will just really suck up anything. Rueben revealed the pair have done very little training and have been left with bleeding, blistered feet after the preparation they have done 'Because we think that it's worth it and it's gonna be great,' Rueben added. The walk will take the duo from Oxford Circus in Central London through Kent to Dover, across to Dunkirk (by ferry) through Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland – ending in Val Thorens, at an altitude of 2,300m. Both Reuben and Matt had day jobs before they began working on their app – with Matt working in medical advertising and Reuben working to support business start-ups. The pair - who have been best friends since meeting on a surf trip seven years ago –formulated a plan for the walk at the pub one evening. But, it was something Reuben had been thinking about for years after being inspired by his late Godfather, Jerry Chilvers' who sadly died from cancer in 2018. 'My Godfather put me on a ski lift when I was very little, and he said, "Hey, man, we're going to do a race." 'And I went, "Okay, cool. What's the race called?," Reuben recounted. 'He said, "The race is called the King of the Hill race." And I thought that sounded like one of the coolest things ever.' 'So from then on, we always did. And I did it with my friends on any sort of thing where there was ever a race involved. We called it the King of the Hill,' Reuben added.
CTV News
13-05-2025
- CTV News
‘It's like Mars': North Vancouver architect on his 500-kilometre trek through Canada's frozen Arctic
A man from North Vancouver has documented his grueling, month-long trek across the frozen tundra of a remote island.
