Aiming high in the war against cancer

Myles Bush usually helps clients buy and sell property in Dubai. But the chief executive of PowerHouse Properties is set to travel to Nepal today on a two-week mountain climb for charity. He talks about the tough conditions that await him and how he's tapped his business network to raise funds.

Last year, you and a group of hikers set up Climb for Cancer, which raises funds for the King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan. Why did you get involved with that group?

I'd lost one of my closest friends, and my grandfather, to cancer last year. That's the primary reason why I wanted to do something to raise money for people suffering from cancer. We climbed [Mount] Kilimanjaro. There was a team of me plus five last year. This year we're up to a team of 12.

Why focus on a charity in Jordan, and not within the UAE?

It's the most advanced, and leading cancer foundation within the Middle East and North Africa region. There's no particular favouritism towards it. I'm certainly not Jordanian.

What kinds of conditions will you face in Nepal?

We start off in more tropical, pleasant weather. Eight are going to Everest base camp. Me, plus three others, are going to Island Peak. The conditions up at the top there are like hell on Earth: it's snowstorms, white-outs and blizzards.

How far are you from your fund-raising goal?

The goal is US$202,000 [Dh741,000], and we are currently at around $165,000. We're doing OK, but we still need a little bit more assistance.

Have you been pushing your network of contacts to donate?

Absolutely. We've been reaching out to our friends and family, and doing several activities. On Friday, a company called Streetwise gave up their morning to do a boot camp [in Dubai, where anybody who turned] up threw in a donation to join in on a tyre-throwing, rope-dodging, beach-sprinting hour of pain.

What strategy have you used to get business contacts to donate?

I take care of our high-end clients, from diplomats to sports celebrities looking to buy or sell property. I started off gently. I say what we're doing [in Nepal] and, "I'm not calling about business or to sell you a property or hound you about real estate. I'm calling you to ask would you be comfortable in doing something for the greater good? This is what I'm giving up - two weeks of my time, which is money in itself - and would you throw in Dh100 or Dh1,000?"

That seems to work well?

It works really well, just by pulling on the heartstring.

Do you think you'll do a hike again next year or take a break?

I'm not going to take a break. My lifetime goal is to climb Everest. Next year I'd like to [scale a high point] in South America. The following year, if all goes well … I'm going for the climb.

To find out more about the children whom Climb for Cancer aims to help, visit firstgiving.com/climbforcancer

* Neil Parmar

twitter: Follow and share our breaking business news. Follow us