Brazilian born Aretha Duarte, is the first Black Latin American woman to climb Mount Everest.
Despite the challenges of health scares and weather conditions, the 37-year-old reached the world’s highest mountain on May 23rd (2021).
During her journey, Aretha developed a pulmonary edema, which can be caused by high elevation or exposure to toxins. She trained for 12½ months before beginning her trip with several other team members.
Edmund Percival Hillary became the first person to climb Mount Everest in 1953 and as of April 2021, 5,788 people have climbed the mountain.
Aretha thanked her team for their support on the trip.
She wrote on Instagram, “Our team is made up of human beings who breathe high performance, even when the air is thin. They open our minds to the impossible, even when routes close before our eyes.”
Positive World Online 