Two brothers aged just three and six have been inspired by a pioneering female Afghan mountaineer to take on their own gruelling challenge.
Swainby brothers Fonzie and Rocco Pisaro will climb the ten tallest peaks in the North York Moors to raise funds for Afghanaid after being inspired by their friend Freshta Ibrahimi.
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Freshta broke boundaries in Afghanistan by empowering women to get involved in outdoor sports and defy the repressive legacy of the Taliban regime.
She fought against prejudice and threats of violence to encourage women to emancipate themselves, but had to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control and banned women from being outdoors unaccompanied or engaging in sport.
Freshta now lives in Middlesbrough and met Fonzie and Rocco through a Teesside music group their parents are involved in.
Moved by the plight of the people in Freshta’s homeland, Fonzie raised £3,000 for Afghanaid last year by taking part in a triathlon.
Now he and his three-year-old brother Rocco are taking direct inspiration from Freshta - who is currently preparing to climb Mount Everest - by challenging themselves to scale Moors’ peaks.
The pair will set off from their school, Carleton and Faceby Primary, tomorrow afternoon (Friday July 22) and over the next week will climb ten peaks including Rosebery Topping, Hambleton End and Urra Moor.
Together the peaks' combined height will be around 7,492 metres – equivalent to the tallest mountain in Afghanistan, Noshaq – and the boys will fly a traditional Afghan kite at the summit of each climb.
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Their mum, Emily Smith, is proud of her sons' determination and says she is confident the pair will manage the challenge despite their young age.
She said: “Rocco and Fonzie are amazing at climbing, since they both first walked they’ve had boundless energy that we’re always desperate to burn off.
“Of course I’ll give Rocco a piggyback if he needs it though!”
Emily added: “They find it hard to understand how children in other parts of the world are starving, but realise the great importance of helping those less fortunate.”
Emily described Freshta as an ‘incredible woman’ and is delighted that she will be joining the boys on their final day climb up Rosebery Topping next Thursday (July 28).
The boys can be sponsored here.
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