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In January, CPS’s Data Analyst Radek Kazsubowski is heading to Morocco to climb Mount Toubkal (4,167m), the highest peak in North Africa. Radek decided to do it in the winter, because snow, ice and freezing temperatures apparently sounded like a great idea. His mountain ‘career’ started on Ben Nevis. Radek said he wanted to see how hard the UK’s highest mountain could be. It turned out the tallest is not actually the hardest, which sent him off chasing tougher challenges. After dozens of Munros, it was time to go higher.
The climb takes two days. The first day Radek will trek from Imlil (1,740m) up to the Toubkal refuge (3,207m), with day two being the big one. A start at pre-dawn, summit and then all the way back down to Imlil, around 10-12 hours on the move. The oxygen level at the summit of Mount Toubkal is approximately 40% less than at sea level, making breathing more difficult, so he will fully expect to be gasping. That’s one tough day for Radek, but for people living with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition that affects the lungs, breathing is something they manage every single day. That is why he is climbing, to raise money for the Butterfly Trust, who are Community Pharmacy Scotland’s charity partner this year.
Cystic Fibrosis is a condition that many in community pharmacy will be familiar with from treating patients with the condition. The Butterfly Trust is a Scottish charity that gives face-to-face support to people with cystic fibrosis and their families. They cover benefits, housing, education and work, plus befriending and mentoring to name just a few.
We know times are tough, but if you can spare some money, it would make a real difference to a small charity that helps so many in need. Radek will be posting updates from the mountain, and hopefully a summit photo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Mount Toubkal is 4,167m (13,671ft) high. It is the highest mountain in Morocco and in North Africa, and sits in the High Atlas range. That makes it more than three times the height of Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain at 1,345m.
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The Butterfly Trust is a Scottish charity that supports people with cystic fibrosis and their families. Its support is face-to-face and practical, covering benefits, housing, education and work, as well as befriending and mentoring. The Butterfly Trust is Community Pharmacy Scotland’s charity partner this year.
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Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that mainly affects the lungs and digestive system. It causes thick, sticky mucus to build up, which makes breathing harder and leads to frequent chest infections. People with cystic fibrosis manage their condition every day, and many in community pharmacy will be familiar with it from treating patients.
