First all-black expedition team reaches summit of Mount Everest
History has been made after an all-black team of climbers reached the top of Mount Everest for the very first time.
The seven climbers who made it to the summit hope they will inspire more black people to attempt the feat.
A little over 6,000 people have successfully completed the trek up the tallest mountain in the world.
But before the Full Circle expedition team’s achievement, only eight of those climbers were black.
Manoah Ainuu, Eddie Taylor, Rosemary Saal, Demond ‘Dom’ Mullins, Thomas Moore, James ‘KG’ Kagami and Evan Green nearly doubled that number.
‘We did it yall! The Expedition was a success,’ Taylor posted on his Instagram page after reaching the highest point on Earth at 2.40am on Thursday.
‘Snapped a few blurry photos and proceeded to hustle down. It has been amazing to be a part of this team and to see the vision of @phil_henderson come to life.’
The seven climbers thanks everyone who donated to a GoFundMe page that made their record-breaking climb in Nepal possible.
All of the group are originally from the US – except one member who is Kenyan.
Among them is a small-business owner, an Iraq War veteran and a high school science teacher.
Thanking their followers on Instagram, the team said: ‘Our success was directly related to your support, well wishes and financial contributions.
‘We are so thankful to the 1000+ people who donated directly, through the gofundme, and our holiday auction.
‘This was at heart a community project. We really appreciate your support and your help getting the first all-Black team to Everest and ultimately to the summit.’
The team said they couldn’t have done it without the help of local Sherpa guides, who help hundreds of climbers up Everest every year.
Team leader Philip Henderson told ABC News: ’I am deeply honoured to report that seven members of the Full Circle Everest team reached the summit on May 12
‘While a few members, including myself, did not summit, all members of the climb and Sherpa teams have safely returned to Base Camp where we will celebrate this historic moment.’
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