Mar 08 - Manar Takes On Med Steps Challenge
For most people, while the Med Steps do present a challenge, it is something that regularly features in their fitness regime, but for 22-year-old Manar Ben Tahayekt, walking up the Med Steps has taken months of preparation and training as Manar has cerebral palsy.
She has been training with the help of Kenneth Cardona, Valerie Makey and many friends, and will be climbing to the top on Saturday 9th April.
YGTV spoke to Manar, whose main reason for undertaking this challenge is to show that having a physical disability doesn't have to stop you.
What inspired you to take on the Med Steps challenge?
Funnily enough, my friends inspired me because they used to go there and I used to feel left out because I was not ready for it, but then I spoke to Valerie and Kenneth, we decided to make it my big challenge and I have always wanted to make a difference and this seemed to be the right thing to do.
How have you been training for it?
I am going to be honest, at first I did not take to my training especially in the summer time. But then, I thought about it and said ‘’I want to do it so badly, I’ve got to fight on!’’ I have been walking up and down steps, everyday it is a different route and everyday is a challenge.
What would you say have been your biggest challenges so far?
Doing the Duke of Edinburgh award. I went to places where I did not know anyone and I had to do everything mostly independently, with some help here and there, it taught me independence and it made me realise I could do things without having my parents beside me. That was probably the biggest challenge I ever have encountered. Up to now!
When is the challenge going to take place?
9th of April, note it down in your diaries I can’t wait to see everyone cheering!
Have you had a lot of support for your challenge?
Absolutely! Living in a place like Gibraltar everything gets around quickly. Since we were featured in the local press and on social media, I have been getting stopped by so many people down town, their support and encouragement means so much to me! Lots of people have also come to train with me to show their support.
What do you hope to achieve from this challenge and what message would you like to share out of taking on this challenge?
Everyone knows that being disabled is a struggle; people will doubt your abilities without knowing what you can do. I want to show people that you CAN do anything you set your mind to no matter how difficult it might be. I am hoping to achieve my goal to make a difference, to try and make people understand and see beyond disability.
I obviously cannot change people’s mentality but I can show them that having some sort of disability need not need to limit your experiences. My Cerebral Palsy does not stop me from doing the things they can do, for me it will ten times harder than for them, but if I work hard for it, I can achieve it just like they can.
If something means so much to you, if you have big dreams and expectations then you can move forward. I want people to go out there and fulfil their dreams. Life is too short for you to just sit there and do nothing just because one person said ‘’you couldn’t’’ when a thousand others said ‘’YOU CAN’’ and when your mind said ‘’GO AHEAD!” Always listen to your heart and mind, enjoy your life and do what makes YOU happy! Achieve every goal you have set yourself!
Tell me a bit about yourself, what are your hobbies, your interests, your likes?
I am a strange 22 year old who is absolutely crazy especially around friends, I feel like I never had a childhood before because I was not as strong as I am now, so I am just enjoying everything that I never got the chance to enjoy. My life is a rollercoaster ride that I definitely do not want to STOP riding because even through ups and downs I still think I am lucky to have such an amazing life.
I love writing, in fact, I am a daily blogger. I think that blogging helps me communicate with people and I can express how I feel through writing. You know how a songwriter writes about his past experiences? That’s me, but instead of a song I write a story and I want to my readers to actually know how I felt during that point of my life, I don’t hide my feelings in my writing I actually pour my heart into it and that’s why my old English teacher used to called me an ‘’Honest writer’’.
Apart from writing, I enjoy listening to music, music has helped me through life and the way it spoke to me, it made me feel alive when I was pretty much dead inside. I listen to all kinds of music genres but I prefer indie and rock.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is a condition marked by impaired muscles co-ordination, it also affects speech and movement.
Has it ever been something that has stopped you from doing things before in your life?
NO! Nothing can ever stop me not even my disability. The only thing that can stop me is myself, which is never the case seeing I am always looking for new adventures to tick off my bucket list.
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