Runners around the world scale the height of Burj Khalifa – from their homes

The challenge, organised by Gulf For Good, included participants from Singapore and Mexico

Runners around the world climbed the equivalent of Burj Khalifa as part of the Gulf for Good challenge. Pawan Singh / The National

Dozens of people around the globe climbed the equivalent of Burj Khalifa – the world’s tallest building – to raise money for charity on Friday.

Participants from Mexico, Singapore and Dubai climbed 2,909 stairs as part of the challenge, reaching the equivalent of the 160th floor of the towering Dubai landmark, as part of a Gulf for Good challenge.

In partnership with Dubai Sports Council and led by global elite tower runners Gretta Beckett and Wai Ching, people around the world scaled staircases in their buildings or used steps to climb the mammoth height, raising more than Dh17,000 (at the time of publishing) in the process.

Gulf for Good shared some social media posts from those taking part in the challenge. “So much inspiration from this guy! Roberto from #Mexico currently doing our Burj Khalifa virtual stair climb with only one step of 30cm," the non-profit organisation wrote on Instagram "He's #28 in the world of global elite tower runners and he's currently doing the challenge right now.”

Dubai resident Chelsee Beyga was among those to take part in the challenge. “What a challenge the Burj Khalifa virtual climb was today in order to raise donations for the amazing charity Gulf for Good,” she said in an Instagram post.

“I climbed just over 160 flights of stairs, ascending over 2,904 steps ... This was a complete game-changer for me, definitely the hardest physical thing for me to have completed so far.

"I really had to tap into that subconscious mind and keep telling myself ‘I could do this’ and I did! In just over 45 minutes. Definitely caught the bug for my next charity challenge."

Each participant was asked to donate Dh50 to Gulf for Good to support the charity’s numerous projects for children in Nepal, Uganda, Tanzania, Peru and Lebanon.

“Our international charity projects need our support more than ever before. Due to Covid-19, our usual source of fundraising from local activities and international challenges are under threat and our very limited resources are extremely stretched,” Gulf for Good said of the challenge.

“Please help us continue our work to give children around the world, the chance of a better life. We are focusing on fundraising to provide them with day-to-day essentials: food, water, clothing, shelter.”