To the ten Saudi women attempting a punishing ascent to a major milestone on the world’s highest peak, the dangers of reaching the Mount Everest base camp are no match for their cause. As a part of an ever-growing effort in Saudi Arabia, the campaign, “A Woman’s Journey: Destination Mount Everest,” intends to raise awareness of breast cancer among Saudi Arabian women to an altitude of over 17,000 feet on the slope of the 29,029 feet (8,848 m) giant.
Headed by Zahra Breast Cancer Association founder Princess Reema Bint Bandar Bin Sultan Al Saud, the climb is one of the association’s many efforts throughout the last few years to raise cancer awareness among Saudi women. In a groundbreaking efforts in the fight against breast cancer in the Kingdom, the “Pink Ribbon” campaign in October 2010 set the world record for largest human awareness ribbon with over 10,000 participants.
