SEPANG (March 8): A team of 15 female climbers have embarked on an expedition to Everest Base Camp in conjunction with 2022 Women's Day celebrations.

       The expedition, dubbed 'Everest Base Camp Mountaineering De Femina', was flagged off by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here Tuesday (March 8).

       Speaking to reporters after flagging off the expedition, Rina said she would pray for the mission to proceed smoothly and hoped that the team's spirit would inspire as well as motivate other women.

       "All 15 climbers not only bring repute to all women in the country, but also for the nation," she said adding that their success would also prove that women could do anything they set their minds to.

       Rina said the expedition, involving climbers from various backgrounds including civil servants and students, coincided with the 2022 Women's Day theme 'Saksama Bersama'.

       Expedition leader Assoc Prof Dr Farha Abdol Ghapar, said the climbers, comprising those aged 22 to 56, were eager to start their mission which had been delayed since 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

       "We have made preparations since 2019. Prior to the pandemic, we underwent training by scaling several mountains inside and outside the country, including in the Philippines.

       "When we reach the Everest base camp, which sits at an altitude of 5,364m, we will lay out a giant 250XL-sized T-shirt to be entered into the Malaysia Book of Records," she said. – Bernama