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Old Mutual East Africa Group has partnered with her as they seek to make her dream a reality.
Mountaineer Dr. Faith Mwende is plotting big ahead of her quest to achieve the incredible feat of becoming the first Kenyan woman to summit Mt. Everest.
Mwende, who hails from the hilly side of Kilungu in Makueni County, noted that she is keen to use her platform to enhance positive change in society.
“It’s not just about reaching the summit; it’s about using my platform as a tool for positive change to promote crucial causes such as mental health and climate change challenges. Mountaineering has been a personal journey for me,” she said.
Meanwhile, Old Mutual East Africa Group has partnered with her as they seek to make her dream a reality. Through the partnership, they will highlight the importance of embracing a healthy and well-rounded lifestyle.
“I am grateful to Old Mutual for their belief in my quest and for their support as it will provide peace of mind, knowing that if anything happens, proper medical attention or evacuation will be available,” Mwende said.
Old Mutual has sponsored her insurance, medical care, and climbing gear. While committing their support, Old Mutual East Africa Group Chief Operating Officer Dr.Isaac Nzyoka lauded Mwende for her bravery.
“Dr. Mwende’s mantra, “No Summit too high”, speaks to the audacity of the human spirit and the potential to overcome any obstacle. We share this spirit of determination and innovation, as reflected in our mission to provide lifestyle and wellness solutions that help people achieve their lifetime financial goals,” he said.
During the support handover, Old Mutual affirmed that the wellness of the people in the communities it operates in is critical to meeting its purpose of enabling people to achieve their financial goals.
Meanwhile, distinguished Northern Irish climber Noel Hanna who summitted Everest 10 times has died on one of the world's most dangerous mountains, the Annapurna mountain.
It was reported that Hanna, 56, died on Monday, April 17 on his way back from Annapurna's 8,091m (26,545-foot) summit, according to Kathmandu-based Seven Summit Treks. He was returning after a successful summit when he died at Camp 4.
"His body has been brought down and flown to Kathmandu," Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP from Annapurna base camp.
Hanna had climbed the highest point on all seven continents. In 2006, he climbed the world's highest peak and then cycled from the route's base camp to the sea in eastern India, reaching the Bay of Bengal after a marathon two-week bike ride.
Annapurna, the world's tenth-highest mountain, is avalanche-prone, technically difficult, and has a higher death rate than Everest. Rescuers and helicopters were busy on the mountain on Tuesday, April 18 in efforts to locate three other Indian climbers.
Record-holding Indian climber Baljeet Kaur, 28, and compatriot Arjun Vajpai, 30, were both rescued. Another 34-year-old Indian climber, who fell into a crevasse on Monday, is yet to be found.
The spring Himalayan climbing season had a tragic start last week with the death of three Nepali climbers on Everest. The trio was crossing the treacherous Khumbu icefall as part of a supply mission when a block of glacial ice fell and swept them into a deep crevasse.
The government has issued more than 700 climbing permits for various Himalayan mountains this season, including 319 for Everest.
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