Jumeirah Emirates Towers holds Vertical Marathon

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Jumeirah Emirates Towers has hosted this year's Vertical Marathon to raise funds for Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF).

The event saw 236 runners ascending Jumeirah Emirates Towers for the annual fundraising event, with participants raising a total of AED 177,000 for MSF. This brings the total amount raised for MSF through this popular event to AED 1.083 million to date.

The event, which is in its ninth year, was organised by Jumeirah Emirates Towers with the support of the Red Crescent Society.

The Vertical Marathon requires participants to climb the 52 floors of the Jumeirah Emirates Tower in Dubai, which has a total of 1334 steps. Anyone can take part, with children as young as two taking part in previous years. Participants are split into five groups; males under 18, females under 18, 18+ males, 18+ females and groups, which can contain three or four members. Participants are timed using computerised timing chips by Premier Timing.

Brazilian national Gustavo Ayres Netto ascended the 350 metre high Office Tower of Jumeirah Emirates Tower with a winning time of 8.49 minutes. The winning female was Jo Phillimore with a time of 11.57 minutes, and the winning team, Dubai American Academy, made it to the top in 10.59 minutes.

MSF is an international independent humanitarian medical organization that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from health care without discrimination in more than 60 countries.

The event was sponsored by Move One Relocations, with Premier Timing, Puma, Swarovski and Acqua Panna all taking part as event support partners.

About Jumeirah Group:

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel chain and a member of Dubai Holding, operates a world-class portfolio of hotels and resorts including hotels in Dubai city, luxury hotels in central London and luxury hotels in New York City.

Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts includes Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray and Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai; Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London; Jumeirah Essex House in New York; and Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in Shanghai. Jumeirah Group also runs the luxury serviced residences brand Jumeirah Living; the spa brand Talise; Jumeirah Restaurants; Wild Wadi Waterpark; The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management; and Sirius, its global loyalty programme.

For further information please contact:
Genevieve Picard
Director of Corporate Communications
PO Box 214159
Dubai
United Arab Emirates
+971-4-406-8505
www.jumeirah.com

SOURCE Jumeirah Group