Kenyan woman climbing Everest to save the planet

Faith Mwende, the first Kenyan woman to attempt a climb on Mt Everest, the world's highest. [Courtesy]

Dr Faith Mwende recalls the moment she broke the news about her intentions to climb Mt Everest to her family. There were mixed feelings between her parents and siblings. Her mother, especially, was adamant; there was no way her daughter would attempt to climb the world's highest peak. "Let me not hear that you are climbing that mountain," she told Mwende with a note of finality.

Family members lobbied, trying not to betray their apprehensions. Friends wondered why she would "pay money to go and suffer". In the end, all were convinced that Mwende's determination to climb the Everest was much stronger than their inner voices of repudiation.