An intrepid fundraiser pushed his mind and body to the limit while trekking to Mount Everest Base Camp, in the Himalayas.
Adventurous Raza Anjum tackled high altitude, freezing conditions and giant glaciers as he climbed the highest mountain on earth.
He organised the 80-mile expedition as a way of raising funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and his current total stands at more than £1,000.
“It was quite an experience – incredibly scenic and beautiful but also extremely tough, physically and mentally,” said Raza, who is based in Saffron Walden and works in central London.
“We were climbing and high-altitude trekking for eight or nine hours a day, starting very early in the morning and sometimes as early as 4am. They were long days and everything blurred into one.
“It was a beautiful, rewarding feeling getting to the top, but I was exhausted.
“The high altitude was the hardest thing, as were the incredibly cold winter conditions. The temperature plummeted to around -25C .
“However, I blocked out the possibility of not being able to complete the challenge.
“The fact I was doing it for charity helped and motivated me and definitely gave me an extra spur. I knew I had to do it.
“I have doctors in my family, so have always been aware of the importance of medical care.
“I’ve also been reading lots about EACH, in terms of fundraisers and the things people do to support it.
“It does an incredible job supporting families through very difficult times and is such an important charity – one I’m delighted to support.
“Hopefully something like this generates ideas and inspires others to raise funds.
“Obviously my challenge was a bit extreme but there are lots of great hiking and trekking opportunities in the UK, too.”
Raza, a lawyer specialising in commercial property, trained for several months in readiness for his mission.
He flew to the Himalayas on 22nd December and returned home on 7th January.
Raza is no stranger to mind-blowing challenges and climbed to the K2 Base Camp in August 2023, at an altitude of 5,150m, raising almost £3,000 for London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has previously climbed the highest mountains of Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland and has set his sights on returning to the Himalayas soon, to climb a ‘seven-thousander’ (a mountain which has an altitude of between 7,000m and 8,000m).
“My previous expeditions had given me a bit of a steer, in terms of what to expect,” he said.
“You have to programme your mind and I took medicine to help with the rapid ascent to high altitudes and to help combat severe symptoms of acute mountain sickness, because there’s half the oxygen compared to sea level.
“However, a side effect of the medicine is headaches, fatigue, nausea, numbness and tingling in the fingers, toes and face, so it’s far from perfect.
“To an extent, it doesn’t matter what physical shape you’re in or how much training you’ve done. When it comes to high altitudes, a lot depends on the individual and how your body adapts to the environment and lack of oxygen.
“Despite the many challenges, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.
“An experience like this removes you entirely from everyday life back home.
“It’s so different and I like testing my mind and body, to see how far I can go.”
Raza’s JustGiving page is still open and he would love to hear from individuals or businesses interested in making a donation. All donations go directly to EACH, which supports families and cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
To show your support, head here.
