Oldham’s ‘Running Man’ conquers Ben Nevis

Oldham’s ‘Running man’ - Afruz Miah - has completed a charity trek and climb of the Ben Nevis mountain, which has the highest peak in the UK.

A total of 17 people took part in the climb, including a person with leukaemia and someone living with Parkinson’s disease.

The climbers included fund raisers from different part of the UK including Birmingham, Ashton, Oldham and Glasgow.

Afruz Miah, BEM, was supported by the Sajjad foundation and mountaineer Akke Rahman, who is the first British Bangladeshi to have scaled Mount Everest.

Afruz said: “I want to work with different organisations and communities to promote fitness and wellbeing.

"This time we wanted to raise the bar a bit higher and decided to take on the biggest mountain in the UK which stands at a majestic 1345m above sea level.

“Funds raised through this challenge will be used to support the Yemen Malnutrition Project via Global Relief Trust, who have a team on the ground in Yemen.

“Our initial target was £5,000, but with everyone’s generosity we are close to raising £15,000.

"We have been overwhelmed by the support of donors. 

"The difficult climb was was well worth the pain and hardship.”

Afruz added: “A big shout out to all our amazing sponsors, donors and well-wishers.

"Also the team in Glasgow, and brothers Zahir and Nav for organising the hospitality, food and accommodation.

“We are already planning our next challenge to climb Mount Toubkal (Morocco) in October to support and maintain a school for the blind in Kashmir.

"Any one interested should get in touch with me.”

Muhammad Akram, 47, from Birmingham, has Parkinson’s disease and made the exhausting climb after seeing the state of Yemeni men, women and children.

“The climb was very tough even though I took regular breaks and was supported by the team," he said.

"I initially thought I had made a mistake.

"I thought I shouldn’t have come, but then I remembered the little children who are dying without food while we live a life of luxury, so I pushed myself and carried on.

“After I finally reached the peak I was exhausted and freezing and the tips of my fingers were numb.

"It was tough, but I enjoyed the experience.

“The climb took about eight hours in total.

"When we were descending I experienced cramps on my thighs but the team helped and encouraged me to continue.

"I managed to raise £1,130 for the cause.”

Yemen is in the throes of the worst humanitarian disaster in decades, and there is a Cholera outbreak.

The devastation in Yemen over the past six months has been compared to Syria after six years of war.

Also, over four million civilians have been displaced and half a million will die this year alone of starvation.

Figures indicate 18 million people have no fresh water and a child dies every eight minutes.

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