Yesterday, I reached Dôme du Goûter (4304m), but conditions were not optimal to safely continue the remaining 506m to the top.

This is a great achievement for me as a beginner in alpinism. I honestly thought I would not be able to climb the infamous Grand Couloir (between 3100 and 3800m), but I did!

Why would someone with issues in her leg and an average fitness level attempt these insane challenges? OK, there is a bit of craziness, an adventurous spirit, and a smile-through-it-all attitude, with the hope of inspiring and motivating mainly my little lady.

But the main reason is the complete lack of basic medical care I witnessed during some of my travels around the world, leaving me feeling helpless and tearful.

I promised myself that each year I would do a mountaineering challenge to raise support and awareness about this problem, worsened by wars and disasters. One of the organisations that truly helps get this medical care where it is needed most is Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

This year's challenge was really tough! I do hope it will be worthwhile by helping me raise more support (no donation is too small, and all donations will go directly to MSF).

Background story

I struggled all my life with physical exercise. It was frustrating, for example, to see others performing karate stances flawlessly when I was a kid, while they were hard for me. Growing up, I started to love hiking and trained a lot to do the Inca Trail and reach the Everest Base Camp, yet they were still arduous to complete despite all my training. I was very hard on myself, not even enjoying my achievements.

Last year, I discovered that I was born with dislocated hips that I haven’t fully recovered from. So, actually, what I achieved was rather remarkable. It was liberating both mentally, as I stopped being hard on myself and started to be proud of what I had achieved given my limitations, and physically, because by knowing my limitations, I could work around them with help from hip specialists, physiotherapy, and appropriate training. Then, I reached the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and completed the Paris half marathon in 2h23. I was at 0 km two years ago! I even restarted Karate last year with my daughter to motivate her and I am 2 belts away from the black one!

I feel so lucky and blessed. I could have had a much bigger disability, but what I have only affects high performance.

This is because I always received all the support I needed from the moment I was born.

Many around the world don’t even receive basic medical support. This is why I love what Doctors Without Borders is doing: going beyond barriers all around the world to care for those who need medical help the most.

I am on my way to the French Alps, attempting to climb the iconic Mont Blanc, which will be super challenging for me. I want to raise support and awareness for those in need of medical basics around the world.

Would you help provide this support, please? Either through a donation (all donations will go directly to Doctors Without Borders) — no amount is too small: £10 can help buy splints for a patient with a broken leg in areas where they are a luxury! — or just through some cheering up!