The mountain challenge inspires women to overcome their fears

The world record holder who inspired a group of women to climb North Africa’s highest peak said she was “very proud” that some had overcome their fear of hiking to take on the challenge.

Zaynab Jogi, from Blackburn, Lancashire, said she was “pushing them to the max” to prepare them for the women’s-only hike to climb Morocco’s 4,167m Mount Toubkal in June. charitable purposes.

This will include climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, the highest mountain in the UK.

Shima Patel, one of six women taking part, said she “can’t wait” for the trip of a lifetime.

Miss Jogi, also known as Zee, climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2021, where she participated in two Guinness World Records: the obstacle course and the highest fitness class ever recorded.

The aim is to raise money for Z’s Defense Academy, which the 35-year-old set up six years ago.

She said it was about enabling women in the community, including British Muslim women, to “feel safer and empowering them”.

The association now offers numerous courses ranging from wellness courses to nutrition to self-defense.

She previously led the group, made up of academy volunteers, on the climb of Pendle Hill in Lancashire and they were joined by dozens of other women supporting the hike.

“Push them”

Miss Jogi has training climbs planned on Scafell Pike in Cumbria and Yr Wyddfa, also known as Mount Snowdon, in Wales, then on Ben Nevis before Mount Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.

She said: “This is their first ever international trek and their very first mountain that they will climb at very high altitude.

“I’m really pushing them to the max and doing a lot of big mountains, hopefully they’ll be fit enough to climb that mountain and peak successfully.”

Miss Jogi said some women were reluctant at first, but overcame their fears.

“I think people are quite afraid of hiking, but once they’ve done it, they feel that achievement of climbing to the peak, it’s an incredible feeling,” she said.

“I am very proud of them. They are very enthusiastic, trust me and listen to me.

She said she thought the trip, which will also include visits to local orphanages, would be “life-changing.”

“We will support the orphanages by giving them food, clothes and a little love before the trip,” she said.

Ms Patel continued: “It’s just amazing. We have all walks of life, all ages, all sizes, but everyone sticks together and helps and supports each other.”

She said she was already planning to do more climbs after Mount Toubkal.

“I hope we can also reach Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest, but we will start slowly and surely with Mount Toubkal in Morocco,” she said.

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