FORMER Redditch resident Tasneem Ahmed is to stride out to one of the Everest Base Camps for charity, writes Catherine Reston.
Tasneem, who left the town last year, will be on a 17-day trek in aid of the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal – a charity which helps run the only cancer hospital in Pakistan to offer free medical care.
Founded by cricket legend Imran Khan, the hospital provides free care to three-quarters of its patients every year.
“I have always been a fan of Imran Khan and used to watch the cricket Test Matches as a child,” said Tasneem, now an international product manager.
She came across the charity after beginning to work in healthcare herself.
“It was heart-wrenching to know that people could not afford to get diagnosed for cancer, let alone receive appropriate treatment,” she said.
This is not Tasneem’s first time fund-raising. She has previously done a 5km run to raise funds for the Alexandra Hospital.
Eager to get started, Tasneem is already in training for the expedition in the autumn.
She has increased her morning run to 6km and is using weights to prepare for any rock climbing the trek might include.
“I am really looking forward to sharing the adventure with people who have the same vision as me,” she said.
“To be able to contribute on this level to the charity is heart-warming and makes me feel I am really pushing myself physically to help those cancer patients in need.”
Indeed her only concerns are: “The altitude sickness but also not being able to get my caffeine fix at 18,000ft!”
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tasneemeverest to support Tasneem.
