'peak' achievement for bankers

By admin on September 6, 2007 12:00 AM

FOUR bankers are swapping the heights of Canary Wharf for Africa's tallest peak.
The businessmen are climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on September 20 to raise #200,000 for schools - and make the world's highest financial transaction.
The bankers, originally from Lebanon, hope to break the record for the highest (in terms of altitude) such deal by using a satellite phone to buy shares in Lebanese stock from a Lebanon bank.

The Wharfers - Barclays Capital's Salim Al Halabi, 25, and Kheiry Sammakieh, 25, Credit Suisse banker Hani Al-Omari, 27, and Mouhammed Choukeir, 30, of Morgan Stanley - are raising money for International Medical Corps UK.
Unicef has pledged #1.25million to allow the charity to improve the condition of 30 Lebanese schools. The 2006 conflict damaged 612 of the country's public schools, with many yet to be rebuilt.
The bankers scaled Britain's three highest peaks Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike to practise for their six-day hike on Tanzania's border with Kenya.
"It's a mental and a physical climb for all of us," said Hani. "We are all pretty worried about the last two days, especially the last day. The last push to the summit, we are doing at night.
"You are really affected by lack of oxygen at the top and there's the risk of frostbite and hypothermia.
"The financial transaction is more of a symbolic move to show that even though there's turmoil in Lebanon, we still have confidence in the country and we are willing to put our money there."
The intrepid friends are members of Lebanon United, London volunteers raising money and awareness to support humanitarian, educational and sustainable development initiatives in the country.
The team has already raised #83,000 through personal donations and corporate sponsorship from firms including Barclays Capital and Aramex.
Kheiry's cousin Seif Sammakieh, who lives in Saudi Arabia, will join the foursome on the trip.
Visit www.kili4lebanon.com for more details
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