00:00In an inspiring display of resilience and determination, a group of Trinidadian
00:05citizens has returned home after successfully reaching the summit of
00:09Mount Everest, marking one of the most extraordinary feats for the said group.
00:14The group called Island Hikers Trinidad consists of six hikers between the ages
00:18of 60 and 78. They arrived at Piaco International Airport greeted by cheers
00:24from family, friends and well-wishers. The team's accomplishments has drawn
00:29admiration for their courage, teamwork and unwavering spirit to conquer one of
00:34the world's most challenging peaks. One of the hikers, Mr. Farzali, who is 78
00:39years old, has been hiking for the past 30 years and has covered most of South
00:44and Central America and also the Philippines in the last year.
00:48Sharon Ruptumaj, a member of the Island Hikers, expressed pride and
00:54completion this journey alongside her teammates.
00:57The motivation that we give to each other is what influenced me to stick with them.
01:04But it was not as easy as most of them expected. She continues.
01:08Even the terrain itself was not straightforward. So there are some huge rocks,
01:13you can basically slip and fall, which some tourists did. So I consider that this group,
01:21I would say the guys are old, the guys are just more aged than myself.
01:26They did extremely, extremely well. I must congratulate all of them.
01:33Even with the excitement for this journey, Mr. Gregory Lieto has stated that he would like to see more young people
01:39involved in this program in the near future.
01:42Most of the people who have done this trip to Everest Base Camp from Trinidad,
01:48this group here was an elderly group.
01:51If I had my choice, I would like to see more youths getting into a venture like this.
01:57As they settle back into their lives in Trinidad, the Island Hikers are already planning their next adventure
02:04to Vietnam and Cambodia next year.
02:07Azaria Ifill, TV6 News.
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