An Armagh woman is set to climb the highest peak in North Africa to raise money for the Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club.
Carolyn McKinney is hoping to raise £2,000 for the club, ahead of her climb in February 2025.
Her son belongs to Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club, which needs new equipment alongside funds towards the increasing costs of pool hire.
Our mission at Armagh Special Olympics Swimming Club is to provide year-round swimming training & participate in competition for persons with special needs in order to create continuing opportunities for them to develop.
She will be climbing Toubkal, a mountain located in southwestern Morocco.
Peaking at 13,671 ft, it is the highest peak in Morocco, the Atlas Mountains and North Africa.
As Carolyn is hiking in the winter, she will have to contend with snow on the summit and temperatures dropping as low as -20 °C. She will also have to take into account the potential for altitude sickness.
She will also have mules to carry her main bag.
It will be a four day trip, with two days of travelling and two on the expedition and the summit day can be expected to take 9 to 12 hours.
Speaking to Armagh I, she says she will hike up to Imlil Valley and stay in Refuge du Toubkal at 3207m, before finishing to the summit the next day.
In the early morning, she will then climb to the summit of Jebel Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.
“I’ve not done anything this challenging before, I’m really looking forward to it!” she said.
You can donate to Carolyn’s appeal by visiting her JustGiving page here.
