Graham Baker is involved with StrongMen, a UK bereavement charity aimed at supporting men through grief.
In 2024, Graham climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, and now he’s set to climb Mount Toubkal, North Africa’s tallest mountain.
The 55-year-old former police officer told the News Shopper: “The trip to Kilimanjaro was successful, and the director suggested we try something again this year.
“One of the options that came up was Mount Toubkal as another challenge, again to raise funds and awareness for the charity.
“The charity is all guys helping other guys who struggle with bereavement.
“A big part of that is getting outside and encouraging physical activity, which also promotes mental health.”
Climbing Mount Toubkal is “a lot shorter” than Kilimanjaro, standing at 13,671 feet.
Graham said: “We will be at a high altitude, not as high as Kilimanjaro, but it’s still quite challenging.
“The actual trekking part of the trip will probably take two and a half days.
“Kilimanjaro was a much longer, slower kind of climb, whereas this is different.
“You get to the refuge point and spend the night there.
“Then it’s up at three or four in the morning, climb to the top, and back down.
“So, it’s quite intensive.”
Graham volunteers with StrongMen’s peer support program, where participants are paired with someone over six sessions.
Volunteers are not professional counsellors but offer support over the phone to men struggling with bereavement, after completing a training course.
This year, the charity is focusing on raising funds for its Man2Man Extra Time service, which provides professional counselling with qualified counsellors.
Graham described reaching the top of a mountain as “surreal” and “relates to the metaphor of what StrongMen is about”.
He explained: “We’re all struggling, both on this challenge and in life because of loss.
“But as a community, reaching the top gives that sense of achievement and shows you can overcome these problems.”
“And, when we reach that euphoria, it’s that sense of achievement and the sense that you can overcome these problems.
“Kilimanjaro was tough, and people were suffering from there, mainly because of the altitude.
“It’s just an amazing feeling that you’re standing on the top of Africa, and that feeling is quite emotional.”
The journey to the top of Mount Toubkal will take place from September 17 to September 23.
Graham shared that it’s harder to climb down a mountain than it is to come back up, explaining that the pressure on the knees during the descent and the sheer exhaustion from being on your feet for many hours make it especially challenging.
Anyone can donate to the StrongMen charity on the Crowdfunder website.
With the climb taking place next Wednesday, Graham has said he feels “really excited” after working hard on his fitness this year.
He added: “I’m looking forward to going to a part of the world I’ve never been to.
“I’ll be with people who have climbed Kilimanjaro before, doing it again, but there will also be new faces joining.
“I just think it will be a great opportunity for us to decompress, spend time together, get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and overcome a challenge, which of course is also a metaphor.”
