Dubai-based luxury hotel chain Jumeirah Group hosted this year's vertical marathon recently at its Emirates Towers 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 Dh 177,000 for MSF. This brings the total amount raised for MSF through this popular event to Dh 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.

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 organisation 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.-TradeArabia News Service