Zahrah Mahmood, the Hillwalking Hijabi
Outdoors brand Berghaus has appointed four new ambassadors with the aim of promoting diversity, inclusion and mental health.
The group, Rhiane Fatinikun, Ed Jackson, Zahrah Mahmood and Iona Rendall, have worked with the Sunderland-based company for some time, but have officially joined its team of brand ambassadors.
They join a roster that includes athletes Sir Chris Bonington, Mick Fowler, Leo Houlding and Anna Taylor.
Rhiane Fatinikun is the founder of Black Girls Hike and a campaigner for diversity in the outdoors. Berghaus said it has been supporting the organisation with products in recent years and will continue to sponsor its projects alongside Rhiane.
She said: “When Berghaus first contacted me, all the team wanted to know was how they could help us grow and reach more women.
Rhiane Fatinikun, founder of Black Girls Hike
“Since then, they’ve supported Black Girls Hike with kit, exposure and access to their network. Berghaus cares about diversity and backing grassroots organisations in meaningful ways. It’s been great having the brand’s support, and I’m looking forward to announcing some of the amazing projects that we have planned together.”
Quadriplegic Ed Jackson is a former professional rugby player with a passion for the mountains. In 2017, Ed fractured multiple vertebrae in his spine and doctors warned him that he may never walk again.
He has since confounded that prediction and successfully completed numerous outdoor challenges, including walking the Pennine Way last summer to raise money for his Millimetres to Mountains Foundation.
Ed Jackson. Photo: Matthew Kelly
Berghaus said it will support him through his busy 2021 schedule. Plans include a September trip with Leo Houlding to climb Mont Blanc and an October expedition to Himlung Himal, a 7,000m peak in Nepal, which Jackson will attempt to summit to fund-raise for the construction of a spinal unit in Chitwan Nepal.
Zahrah Mahmood has become a leading figure in driving participation and inclusion for Muslim women in the outdoors. Also known on social media as the Hillwalking Hijabi, she will be working with Berghaus on a range of campaigns and product initiatives.
She said: “I’m so happy to be working with Berghaus. From my initial conversations with the team, they’ve always been genuine and worked to understand me and what I stand for. I hope the partnership will continue to evolve and bring about some exciting projects.”
Iona Rendell. Photo: Jessie Leong
Iona Rendall is nurse and adventurer, and a keen spokesperson for the mental-health benefits of time spent outdoors. She recently turned her walking group into a social enterprise that provides people with the skills and confidence to get outdoors. Berghaus will work with Iona to take her positive messages to a wider audience.
Janine Hearn, global head of brand for Berghaus, said: “Rhiane, Zahrah, Ed and Iona are all inspirational individuals who epitomise the movement towards increasing diversity in the outdoors today, and the work that each of them does to achieve that is really important.
“Rhiane and Zahrah are at the vanguard in encouraging more people from black and Muslim communities to get into the hills and mountains, and Berghaus has both the resources and the will to help them.
“Ed demonstrates time and again that physical disability doesn’t have to stop someone from exploring the outdoors, while Iona is a brilliant campaigner on the mental health benefits of getting into nature.
“We’re excited about working with all four of them, and the rest of our athletes and ambassadors, on some major campaigns and product developments. As well as supporting their personal projects, one day soon we hope to bring all of our athletes and ambassadors together to share and discuss ideas and insights.”
