20 fundraisers ascended the Moroccan mountain and close in on £30,000.
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An incredible feat by 20 hikers has raised vital funds for the Cricketers’ Trust as they successfully climbed Mount Toubkal in Morocco.
A remarkable fundraising effort nearing £30,000 from the climbers will go towards ensuring the life-changing and often life-saving provision on offer to PCA members and their immediate families continues.
Current and former players completed the challenge with the likes of Somerset’s Fran Wilson and The Blaze teammates of Ella Claridge and Grace Ballinger, ascending the mountain alongside former Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach and former Surrey and England paceman Stuart Meaker.
A journey that started at Birmingham and Gatwick airports on Tuesday 21 October, saw the hikers travel from Marrakech to Imlil Valley on Wednesday before a six-hour climb took them to Toubkal basecamp at 3,207 metres.
The second day of climbing began with a 2:30am alarm call which saw the team ascend to the incredible 4,167 metre summit of Mount Toubkal at 7:30am to watch the sunrise.
A gruelling 12-hour hike on Thursday took them back down the mountain to the Imlil Valley before a well-earned overnight stay in Marrakech.
Situated in the Atlas Mountains, Mount Toubkal is an ultra-prominent peak situated 39 miles from Marrakech and the highest point in Morocco and all of North Africa.
In recent years, fundraisers for the Cricketers’ Trust have completed ambitious challenges including an incredible endurance testing London To Paris bike ride, Headingley to Lord’s bike ride and the Three Peaks challenge.
The Trust was created to support the life-long health and wellbeing of past and present cricketers and their immediate families. As part of professional cricket’s leading charity, the Trust funds life-changing assistance through expert advice, rehabilitation programmes and a dedicated 24-hour Confidential Helpline, all vital services that hikers used as inspiration throughout the three-day adventure.
The most prominent case in 2025 highlighted how the Trust supported the Thorpe family. Graham sadly made an attempt on his life in 2022, and the Trust stepped in to help the former Surrey and England batter and his family with support and counselling. The Trust was there once again for Amanda, Kitty and Emma after Graham’s tragic death last year.
The Blaze seam bowler, Grace Ballinger, said: “I enjoyed the Trek even though it was a bit tough to adjust to different climates. It was boiling hot at the bottom but freezing cold with the 3:30am start to reach to the top.
“These challenges are for a great cause. It was my first experience of doing something for a charity so to do it for one which is so close to home that can impact myself and my friends and family is really important. It felt more worthwhile with how tough it was, but I am really pleased to have contributed to the Cricketers’ Trust.
“It was also really nice to come and meet a different group of people from the cricketing world like past players, current players and people that work for the PCA. It has been nice and refreshing to spend some time with some different people.”
The Blaze batter, Ella Claridge, said: “It was very challenging but once we got to the top and saw the views, it was very much worthwhile and felt pretty accomplished once we got there.
“My advice would be to just get involved with the Trust when you can. We didn’t really know what to expect before and we just signed up. We definitely had a great experience that we will never forget so just do it and take the leap of faith.”
You can still donate to their inspiring fundraising efforts here to help them reach the £30,000 target.
