REDDITCH-born charity adventurer Taz Habib is stepping out on possibly her greatest ever challenge – trekking in the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan – home to the ‘killer mountain’ Nanga Parbat.
The former head girl of Bridley Moor High School is to venture within the shadow of the mountain as she continues her fundraising quest in aid of the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA).
Her challenge won’t just be the trek either as she has to raise a minimum of £2,700 in sponsorship money.
Just last month British climber Tom Ballard and fellow climber Italian Danieli Nardi disappeared while attempting to climb Nanga Parbat.
Tom was the son of Alison Hargreaves, who died in 1995 descending from the summit of K2 – the same year she became the first woman to climb Everest unaided.
“It’s definitely my biggest challenge yet but I’m also so excited about it because at the end of it we get to spend a few days in Lahore and visit Imran Khan’s first hospital, meet the oncologists and patients, and Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan himself,” said Taz, who, after being educated in Redditch now works in the cancer drug sector of pharmaceutical giant Roche in Tucson, Arizona.
Last year she trekked to Everest base camp and did a sponsored parachute jump in Dubai for the same charity.
She’s even pulled on her running shoes to raise money for the Rory the Robot prostate cancer campaign with Redditch Lions and salary sacrifices a portion of her salary – known as a zakat, one of the pillers of Islam – for IKCA.
This trek, from August 18-31, will see her climb to 4,200metres at Chiden Hara before continuing to Rush Lake at 4,760m and topping out at Rush Peak at 5,098m.
“The trek to Everest base camp was my first taste of this sort of a challenge but this is far more important as the Gilgit region is where my family is originally from.
“It’s almost as if this challenge is made for me.”
Despite living in the States Taz is a frequent visitor back home to see her parents and to stock up on quality coffee and have a good haircut.
“It’s such a relief to get home – I don’t see why people moan about Britain, compared to the United States it is much better in so many ways,” she said.
l Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA) is the UK face of Pakistan’s Shaukat Khanum Hospital, which offers free cancer treatment to patients who can’t afford it.
Established in 1994, it was a first in Pakistan as a comprehensive care facility dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Taz said: “If you would like to support me on this challenge you can donate on my JustGiving page – just follow this link and click Donate:
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tasneemkillermountainrushpeak
