Graham Baker, 55, climbed Mount Toubkal in Morocco last month as part of his work with StrongMen, a UK charity supporting men through grief.
Graham Baker climbed North Africa’s highest mountain with the StrongMen charity.(Image: Graham Baker)
The former police officer summited at 8:30am on September 20 after a challenging two-day trek, facing freezing temperatures, snow, and even a lightning storm.
Graham told the News Shopper: “It was epic, absolutely amazing, tougher than I thought.
“When we got to the top, it hit me and I was quite emotional, a bit tearful even.
“That’s what makes it so important.
“We’re not doing this as adrenaline junkies.
“We’re doing it because we want to raise awareness that men do struggle with their mental health, and especially surrounding loss and bereavement.”
The climb began with a long day of travel from Marrakech to Imlil, a village in Morocco, where the group spent the night at a refuge before starting the ascent at 3:30am.
After reaching the summit, the team returned to the village later that evening.
Graham explained: “You start walking at half past three in the morning, and you summit at half past eight.
“Then it’s a full day coming back.
“It’s a very long time to be on your feet, but seeing the top, standing there, it’s just a surreal feeling.”
Temperatures ranged from around the late 40s to freezing at the base camp, with weather changes adding to the challenge.
He added: “So Marrakech was around 38 or 39 degrees, and Imlil was a bit more comfortable.
“But when we got up to start the climb, it was about zero degrees, which sounds cold, but it was actually quite pleasant because you warm up quickly as you climb.
“We experienced every type of weather imaginable.
“It started with clear skies, and when it cleared at the top, we had beautiful, sweeping views for about 10 to 15 minutes.
“Then the snow came in, and we knew we had to get down quickly.
“Later that same day, we even had a storm with lightning.
“It was a bit of everything, but it was all part of the adventure.”
The team numbered between 20 and 27 people, with two members unable to reach the summit due to altitude and a pre-existing knee injury. “
Graham described the descent as even harder than the ascent.
He explained: “It’s a different kind of pressure on the knees.
“When you’re climbing at night, you can’t really see what you’re going up, but coming down, you can see just how steep it was and the rocks beneath you.
“You think, ‘Crikey, I actually climbed that.’
“It’s a bit scarier on the way down, and you end up getting wetter too.”
The climb raised more than £12,000 for StrongMen’s Man2Man Extra Time service, which provides professional counselling for men dealing with bereavement.
The target is £40,000, and anyone can still donate on the Crowdfunder site until October 16.
Graham said: “The camaraderie, being outdoors, and pushing through these challenges all tie into what StrongMen is about.
“Physical activity, fresh air, and community all support mental health.
“Reaching the top shows you can overcome problems in life, too.”
Looking ahead, the charity is considering even bigger challenges, including a potential Sahara trek, though plans are not yet finalised.
Graham, who previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2024, trained extensively at PureGym in Welling to prepare.
He said: “You don’t need to be superhuman to do these sorts of climbs.
“It’s really about mindset, as your mind carries you through more than anything else.”
