IKCA Volunteers Conquer Ben Nevis

Imran Khan Cancer Appeal concluded its Three Peaks Challenge for 2016, with the tallest peak in the British Isles.

Located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, Ben Nevis stands at 1,344 metres (4,409 ft) above sea level. On July 30^th, a group of 19 climbers of varying ages, hailing from all around the country took to the challenge in aid of cancer patients in Pakistan. The youngest among them was only 13 years-old.

It was an early start, with the group assembling at 8.30 in the morning, just outside Fort Williams. They embarked on the climb after a short briefing with the trek guides and IKCA staff. The route they took followed the beautiful middle section of Glen Nevis river.

“It was all nice and cheerful until we got up to the first half of the ascent,” recalls team leader, Ikhlaq Sawant, “when all of a sudden temperatures dropped and freezing fog came in.”  Encouraged by climbers on their way down, the team pushed on, only to grow disheartened when they found they were still an hour and half away from the summit. “It was so cold and the climb seemed never ending. The body said stop,” Ikhlaq explains, “but we could not give up. We were doing this for the sake of cancer victims, whose pain is unimaginable.”

By early afternoon, team IKCA reached the summit. “We all had crazy smiles on our faces!” says Ikhlaq. “We were in such a good mood. Ben Nevis was conquered!”

The National Health Service in Pakistan does not provide cancer treatment and as a result poor people die without treatment, and often even without a diagnosis. IKCA raise funds for the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) in Pakistan, where 111,805 people with cancer have received free cancer care to date. Collectively, IKCA’s Ben Nevis Climbers are determined to raise a minimum of £2,700 for the cause. You can still support them on Halima’s JustGiving Page.

This challenge is closed but you can take part in other IKCA challenges here.