A student from the north-east successfully climbed the highest mountain in North Africa to raise funds for a children’s charity.
Aileen MacAlister made it to the top of Mount Toubkal and raised £1,500 for Childrenreach International.
The 21-year old from Hatton was visiting Morocco for a second time, having spend last summer in the village of Marigha where she helped to build an education centre.
The communication design student at Robert Gordon University said the was delighted to return to the country to take on a second challenge.
“I decided to go for this trip because last year I signed up for the ‘Big Build Morocco’ and had a fantastic time in the village of Marigha helping to build an education centre for the children who live there,” she explained.
“The trip offered me the chance to revisit the now completed education centre while also raising money for the same great cause.
“It also provided me with the opportunity to complete the huge challenge of climbing Mount Toubkal and I wanted to prove to myself that I was able to do it.”
She trekked 64 miles in six days, including a 13,671ft ascent over steep ground to reach the summit of the mountain and an expedition along the coast.
Looking back, she said: “It has to be the hardest thing I have ever done.
“There were a couple of times on the mountain when I thought there was no way I was going to make it to the summit but I kept pushing myself with the thought of what the money I raised was going towards.
“Reaching its peak was one of the most fantastic feelings.”
The expedition was only made possible thanks to a year of fundraising events, including a PJ and Hot Chocolate Day, in which her classmates at RGU donned sleepwear to university for a day.
She also organised a winter ball for her year at Gray’s School of Art.
She said: “The fundraising was a challenge but getting to see the completed education centre made the stress of the past year completely worth it, especially when one of the girls remembered me and gave me a huge hug.
“Returning to the village and seeing the education centre up and running and knowing the difference that it is making to the children was an amazing experience.
“Also, making friends for life was a huge highlight. I was thrown in with 19 people who I had never met but we all became so close from the shared experience and we’ve all kept in contact.”
The trips to Morocco were arranged through RGU’s Raising and Giving Society, the fundraising arm of the students’ union which organises charity activities throughout the year.
