Just Call Me Supergirl – Meet Bonita Norris!

Ladies, we got to meet the gorgeous Bonita Norris last week! Now the name may not be familiar to you, but you need to imprint it on thine brain cells, cos this girl got skills and some serious positive attitude! So Bonita is y’know, just aiming to be the youngest British female to climb Mount Everest in June, at ahem, wait for it…the age of 22!!! Now you would be forgiven for thinking that Bonita has been at this mountaineering thing for years, y’know climbing the stairs whilst still in nappies etc., like your usual sporting heroes. Alas no.

At the age of 17, having never exercised in her life, Bonita decided to give running a try. So she went outside and ran for 30 seconds! I think that’s my favourite bit, the fact that supergirl-serious-mountain-ass-kicker started off with just 30 seconds! The next day, she ran a minute, and so on. Now how many of you would would be satisfied with just 30 seconds? I can bet that you’d be like “ooh, unless I run at least 20 minutes, there’s like totally no point, so why bother” Girl is getting her butt up Everest, that’s why you should bother!! Incidentally Bonita said she “nearly died” when doing those 30 seconds, and now look at her, small steps ladies, can move mountains, or at least allow you to climb up them!!

Now just so you’re aware, climbing Everest ain’t pretty! Our Bonita will be putting herself at risk from the dangers of extreme altitude, frostbite, hypothermia, snow-blindness, and will most likely require bottled oxygen. A little more than a sprint session at the gym no? Everest is one big old mountain 8,848 metres to be precise!! Bonita has already kicked-ass by becoming the youngest female to climb Mount Manaslu, the eighth highest mountain in the world, just four months ago. As one of the most challenging terrains in the world, Mount Manaslu was a perfect warm-up for her Mount Everest challenge. Suddenly complaining about a few drops of rain during my long run this weekend seems utterly pathetic. Also just to give you an idea of just how much work this trot up Everest will be, Bonita has to put on a stone for the climb. This girl is gonna be working so hard that she will need to put on a stone before she goes!!!!

I asked Bonita what she had to say to us girlies when we’re finding it a little difficult getting the A into G, and she, praise the Lord, has been there before!!! Bonita suggested to fit it around thine routine. Don’t be militant and hard on yourself, make it work for you, and fit it around your lifestyle!! We all have a list of excuses in our heads as to why we don’t feel like exercising. Bonita says to just put your shoes on and do it!!!

Bonita sets off this weekend on her journey to Everest, and is hoping to raise £50,000 for her chosen charity Global Angels, an international foundation championing the causes of children around the world, providing sustainable solutions. Every pound received from public donations goes directly to projects working at grass-roots level to empower children and their communities. You can support Bonita, and help raise money for Global Angels, by topping-up your mobile at an ATM during March and April this year. Participating banks and mobile phone operators are clubbing together to donate 5p to Global Angels every time someone tops-up at an ATM. The mobile phone top-up service is available at almost 50,000 ATMs across the UK and is free to use.

What is Bonita gonna do when she gets back? Go shopping and hang out with her girls of course!!!! So let’s get this straight, this fly girl is super-fit, is giving back to Global Angels, likes shopping and having a boogey!! We heart you Bonita, you’re doing an amazing job!!!!!! If you want to follow Bonita’s journey, you can do so here at bonitanorris.com

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