Arabic version: آيتش يجمع 160 ألف جنيه إسترليني عبر تسلّق كليمنجارو

According to BBC News, Manchester rapper Aitch has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, raising more than £160,000 so far for the Down’s Syndrome Association. The challenge was undertaken in honour of his younger sister, Gracie, who has Down’s syndrome, and forms part of his efforts to raise money and awareness for the charity.

Aitch, 26, said Gracie, 16, is an “absolute legend in the streets of Manchester” and beyond. He described her as “a big bottle of light in every room”, saying she has a positive outlook on the world. The musician said the point of his fundraising was to share that having someone in his life with Down’s syndrome is “one of the best things in the world”.

His journey up Africa’s highest peak has been recorded for the upcoming Netflix documentary Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid. He said he was able to manage the altitude and physical aspects of the hike, which some others in the group found difficult. But he identified the mental demands as his biggest obstacle, citing early mornings, late nights and conditions that changed from rainforest to blizzard.

Aitch said the group might have turned back had the climb not been for “such a good cause”. He acknowledged feeling “a little bit of pressure” to increase the scale and fundraising targets of his challenges, but said the focus was on raising as much money as possible and making a difference. His previous fundraising and awareness work was inspired by Gracie, who was also the subject of his 2022 viral song My G.

Reflecting on his experience as a sibling carer, Aitch said there was always more that could be done to support young carers and improve understanding of conditions and learning disabilities. He said he hoped his work would encourage more people to get involved and spread awareness. Aitch: Don’t Be Afraid will be available to stream on Netflix from 26 July.