Peterborough nurse who went from refugee to ultramarathon runner

After completing a 27-hour ultramarathon, a former Afghan immigrant who works as an NHS caregiver wants to motivate more Arab people to play sports.

Fatima Painda, who lives in Peterborough, grew up in the city of Ghazni, in a mountainous area of Afghanistan, but fled to the UK when she was 14 to avoid the Taliban.

Ms Painda, a lieutenant girl at Peterborough City Hospital, embarked on a global going concern this summers, and she will be running roads and sprints across 26 places.

She wants to raise money and recognition for Afghan women who are facing unfairness and become a “voice for change.”

In August, she became one of the several Afghan people, “or even the first Afghan woman”, to finish the annual 100km ultra-endurance CCC culture in France– part of the UTMB World Series.

Mr Painda and her six sisters grew upward working on their family’s land after school, climbing rocks with associates and living a “beautiful” life, she said.

Her school was an hour-long move from her home, and she and her companions frequently chased lorries and jumped on them to prevent walking. She had her first working knowledge.

She and her home escaped after the Taliban seized the nation in 1996.

During their voyage, her home was shot at by the Taliban. At the Pakistani border, they were even robbed of their items.

In Peterborough, she attended Nene Park Academy and, in 2019, she graduated from the University of East Anglia.

She has been training at Peterborough Athletics Track for about 15 times with her coach Paul Harkins.

Mr Harkins described her as “inspirational” and said he had great dreams for her.

When we first moved here, I felt lost. I missed the hills”, Ms Painda said.

” My manager has been there for me through all of my downs and ups.”

” Yes, there is discrimination and restrictions. However, I did n’t think I needed to run because I did n’t need to. Running for me means you have tutors on and you rule the world.

” I did n’t feel the need to fit in or change… I know Muslim people who have faced prejudices.

” If a person who does n’t know me says something to me… I am not going to relate. I do n’t think it has anything to do with me, but they might be going through something on their own.

” Being that means is difficult.” But you have to be thus strong in your basis”.

Mr Painda juggles13-hour swings working in the patient’s A&amp, E office with her running, as well as offering individual fitness training.

She was praised for serving as a global role model for girls in the November issue of Women’s Going.

Over the years, she has been an ambassador for Free to Run, a charity set up to empower women through sport in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She claimed that she was fueled by her love for running and care.

Mr Painda hopes to be” a message for change” and an enthusiasm for other people, particularly from the Arab community.

She has also referred to her home as her “backbone” in honor of them.

” Living for people in Afghanistan is extremely difficult. It’s heartbreaking to see them being deprived of basic right”, she said.

” I actually felt that all the Afghan people were with me when I crossed that end range in Chamonix.” I felt but incredible and powerful. It was a lovely experience”.

She added:” There is so much going around in the universe – in Afghanistan, to Hazara persons, in Palestine, in Lebanon. But if we can spread compassion at any opportunity, we may get it.

I wo n’t stop raising awareness or promoting the issues. If I may modify one life, either through running or through medical and compassion, I did keep going.”