Battling snow, altitude and -10C temperatures, 32 members of G Adventure’s G Trek For Good expedition reached the Moroccan mountain’s 4,167m summit last week.
Donations secured by the group will be split between the operator’s non-profit organisation, the Planeterra Foundation, and Abta LifeLine, helping to support local communities and travel industry members in need.
It was the second time G Adventures had organised the Trek for Good initiative, having run a smaller expedition up Kilimanjaro in 2019.
Brian Young, G Adventures’ managing director EMEA, said a percentage of the 2019 trip’s fundraising had been donated to LifeLine to an “incredible response”, adding how there was “an opportunity to go bigger and Abta LifeLine was the obvious choice of partner for our second trek”.
"There is huge power in bringing people together to raise money and take on, what was for some, the toughest challenge of their life. I want to thank the incredible G Adventures chief experience officers who helped ensure that every person made it to the top which, considering the conditions we faced, was no small feat. We always talk about the powerful friendships that can be made when travelling, and I know that the camaraderie and connections built on Mount Toubkal will last a lifetime.
"We smashed our original fundraising goal of £20,000, and have just passed the £30,000 mark, which is down to the commitment of our climbers and the incredible generosity of everyone who donated. It really is a tribute to this amazing industry we work in.”
Trudie Clements, Abta LifeLine director, said she expected requests for support to increase as the cost of living crisis worsened during the winter.
“The funds raised through G Trek for Good will go towards supporting the most vulnerable in our travel community who are struggling with the cost of living crisis among other things and have nowhere else to turn,” she said.
“It will throw them a lifeline in their time of need and make a real difference to their lives. Taking on a challenge of this nature takes time and commitment and I cannot thank those who stepped up to the challenge or donated enough,” Clements said.
The group’s fundraising page will remain open until 25 October and donations can be made here.
