By Baron Henri Estramant
The Sharjah-based, Qatari sheikh, Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Thani led a charitable expedition of twelve young Qataris and expatriates to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. The noble goal? To raise funds for rebuilding schools, and financing the education of young Palestinians.
His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Mohammed Al Thani is a well-known philanthropist in Qatar and the UAE. The sheikh is normally based in the Emirate of Sharjah (UAE) whence his mother hails, yet he belongs to the Ruling House of Thani (Qatar) through his father, Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani. He is known as the Director General for Sharjah Statistics Centre, but most prominently as a businessman and top athlete. On 22 May 2013 he became the first Qatari to climb Mount Everest in Nepal, the world’s largest mountain. In doing so Sheikh Moe Al Thani (as he is colloquially known) raised one million dollars for education projects in Nepal. Sheikh Moe is father to a the little Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani.
The climbing expedition team included also the very first Qatari women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, and others, that is Mohamed Fakhro, Mohamed Al Naama, Aisha bint Ahmed Al Naama, Yacoub Al Yacoub, Bashaer Al Mulla, Dana Al Anzy, Sheikha Noor Al Thani, Nasser bin Marzooq, Bader Al Madani, Masoud Kalafchi, Raed Zidan, Sheikha Asma Al Thani, Shaima Sherif and Sheikh Sultan Al Thani. The mentor and motor behind the expedition was Sheikh Moe Al Thani serving as a brand ambassador for Reach Out To Asia, a non-profit organisation based in Doha that raises funds for developmental projects in Asia.
The challenge was successfully completed on 8 October 2014. The main financial backers were El Jaish Sports Club as the principal sponsor, in addition to Qatar Financial Centre, and Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum as platinum sponsors. Gold sponsors featured wre QNB, Zidan Real Estate, Qatar Academy, Al Jazeera Academy and the Qatar International School.
