Manar completes her Med Steps challenge

In two and a half hours Manar Bentahayekt completed her Med Steps challenge on Saturday morning. It was not an easy challenge and she took a little longer than had been predicted but it was mission accomplished for this 22 year old with Cerebral Palsy as she reached the summit just after 12.30pm.

“Yes, I would do it again,” cried an emotional Manar having been showered with hugs, kisses and congratulations by the large contingent who were waiting for her at O’Hara’s. She was obviously overwhelmed as she took the final steps on her own to reach the top of Med Steps where the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo, his son Sebastian and Minister as well as Girlguide Ambassador Samantha Sacramento, applauded her achievement.

“I feel very excited. I finally did it. Yes!” she told the Chronicle.

Manar herself would not have dreamed this possible two years ago when her journey began but with her training team behind her all the way this climb had been achieved together. Kenneth Cardona, her former teacher, led her training team and it was much as an accomplishment for them as it was for her. She had first approached Commissioner of Girlguiding Gibraltar Valerie Makey to help make this challenge a reality.

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