A mountaineer who battled extreme winter conditions in the remote Karakoram mountains of the western Himalayas has returned from his latest expedition with a renewed mission to raise funds and awareness for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Raza Anjum, a lawyer from Saffron Walden, recently visited EACH’s hospice in Milton to share his experiences and present a £1,000 donation following his demanding expedition to Khosar Gang – a 6,000m-plus mountain in northern Pakistan’s remote Karakoram region.
The expedition, which took place between late December 2025 and early January 2026, was Raza’s third major mountaineering challenge in support of EACH.
A regular ambassador and long-standing supporter of the charity, he has used his expeditions to raise awareness of the vital work EACH does for children and families across East Anglia.
This time, Raza set himself an ambitious target – to become the first British mountaineer to complete a winter ascent of Khosar Gang.
He reached above 5,000 metres on the mountain, pushing deep into a high-altitude environment where conditions became increasingly hostile. Heavy snowfall, violent winds, avalanche risks and temperatures falling as low as -25°C made the expedition a formidable test of endurance.
The seriousness of the conditions was highlighted when two of Raza’s fellow expedition members were injured in an avalanche during the climb.
Although the extreme conditions ultimately prevented Raza from reaching the summit, he said the expedition was never simply about standing on top of the mountain.
“More than anything, I wanted to support EACH and help raise awareness of the incredible work it does,” he said.
“While I wasn’t able to reach the summit, I’m delighted to have raised funds for EACH and would like to thank everyone who donated and supported me along the way.”
Originally from Saffron Walden, Raza has become a regular ambassador for EACH through his adventurous fundraising challenges.
His previous expeditions have included a winter trek to Everest Base Camp and a winter ascent of Mount Toubkal in Morocco. His challenges have raised thousands of pounds for EACH, while helping to introduce the charity and its work to new audiences.
EACH provides specialist hospice and community-based care for children and families across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. The charity relies heavily on fundraising and donations to continue providing these vital services free of charge to families.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Raza for his continued support and determination,” said EACH Senior Community Fundraiser Victoria Goldsmith.
“Raising £1,000 through such an extraordinary challenge is a fantastic achievement, and the money will help us continue delivering vital care and support to children and families across East Anglia.”
Raza also spoke about his experiences during a fundraising carol service at Saffron Walden Baptist Church last December, sharing an insight into the realities of climbing in one of the world’s most challenging environments.
Away from his mountaineering adventures, Raza runs a successful commercial property law firm called Heydons in central London and recently expanded the business with the opening of a new office in Cambridge.
