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Palestinian, Arab and Western
foreign female mountain climbers said they climbed the summit
Mount Toukbal - the highest peak in Arabia and North Africa at
4167.
In a letter received sent Tuesday, Suzanne Al-Houby 39,
Palestinian well-known climber, told WAFA that she led a team of
9 women to the highest point in Arabia - Jebel Toubkal in
Morocco- as a symbolic act of empowering Arab women.
"We dedicated this expedition to women's empowerment program of
the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), Al-Houby said.
Both Julie (44yrs British) and Suzanne (39yrs Palestinian are
seasoned trekkers and have summitted several peaks in the Middle
East, Africa & Europe.
Eight other women, from various countries, joined Julie and
Suzane in their trip on Thursday 25 May, The team consisted of
climbers, Kiki Kesseler 28, Dutch, Rama Al Jayyousi 29,
Palestinian, Zein Kamal 27, UAE, Reem Al Jayyousi 32,
Palestinian, Barbara Hayward 56 British, Azza Al Sajdi 29,
Palestinian, Yassmeen Hisham 30, Sudanese, Dana Annab, 27,
Palestinian and Julie 44, from UK.
According to an attached brief delivered at a press conference
held in Dubai, The project was the brainchild of Julie Amer,
Founder of Mountain High and Suzanne El Houby, Director of the
Dubai Bone and Joint Centre, to raise funds to support an
empowerment project for less privileged Arab women.
The pioneering expedition was held under the Patronage of HRH
Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE,
Ruler of Dubai.
"I enjoyed seeing how the physical endurance, with all the pain
that comes with it, was taken very well by the team and how I was
finally able to share the emotions and the tears of reaching the
summit with other women," Suzanne was cauted in the press
conference as saying, "this expedition was by women, for women,
with women to women benefiting from the PCRF programme."
Julie said that the team members have a very special gift within,
"the challenge is to dare to let it shine, share it and use it to
help others shine."
"I have dreamt about this trip for a long time and I am delighted
that the dream finally became a reality thanks to the amazing
women who made up the Reaching New Heights team," Julie added.
Reem Al Jayyousi said, in the press conference that, she hoped
the Reaching New Heights team will one day explore all the
mountains and valleys of the Arab world freely, particularly
those closet to her heart - Palestine.
The team endured a 6 day trek staying at simple Berber homes and
mountain refuges en route to the summit. They trekked 6 - 8 hrs a
day along rugged trails and met with snow from 3000m upwards all
the way to the summit.
The funds raised for the charity will be donated to the PCRF. The
fund provides grants to women enabling them to begin small
businesses or economic efforts that will provide them with a
continued income and will help them to feed and take better care
of their children.
Al Houby, who is originally from Yaffa, is proud to be the first
Palestinian woman to climb Mt. Elbrus (5642m.), the highest point
of Europe in August 1, 2005, Kilimanjaro (2002), the highest peak
in Africa, Mont Blanc in France (2004), Everest Base Camp in
Nepal (2003).
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