China's orphans benefit from gruelling desert run

Peter Newall, Head of P&C CLM for Asia took an unusual vacation in June to race 250 km on foot across the Gobi Desert. The race, organised by Racing The Planet, had over 180 participants this year. A Hong Kong resident, Peter decided to put something back into society by running to raise money for the charity, MedArt, and its programme to benefit Chinese orphans with life-threatening medical conditions.

June 2008 

The Gobi Desert is probably not everyone's ideal vacation spot, but that's where Swiss Re's Peter Newall, Head of P&C CLM for Asia, spent his this June.

Peter was among the 180 people ranging from 19 to 67 years old, and hailing from 26 countries, who took part in this year's Gobi March around Kashgar in Western China. He did a six-day, 250 km, six-stage footrace of physical and psychological endurance through the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture, traversing the Gobi Desert's breathtaking but arduous terrain, to raise money for his charity of choice, MedArt.

A Hong Kong-based charity formed in 2003 by caring doctors and musicians primarily to bring comfort to those within hospice or long term confinement institutions, MedArt also runs the China Orphan Outreach programme, which was developed to provide medical and surgical care to Chinese orphans - including those from the Sichuan earthquake - with life-threatening medical conditions.

Peter's friends and colleagues from different parts of the world supported Peter's amazing feat and this wonderful cause to the tune of HKD80,000 (USD10,000) and Swiss Re's corporate sponsoring programmes kicked in the balance of HKD20,000 for a total of HKD100,000 (USD12,820).

Peter completed this remarkable achievement in 54 hours 22 minutes and 33 seconds holding on to 104th position at the finish line. “It is the toughest physical exercise I have ever completed. As for the winners of the race – they are truly machines who make simple marathon running look like kindergarten stuff!” said Peter.

The race required runners to carry their own food and water through the six-day course. Before the race, Peter trained himself in the Hong Kong hills carrying two bags of rice in his backpack.

 

 

 

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