A GROUP led by a Bradford woman is taking on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for charity.

Shabana Bashir, 43, and her team of ten climbers tackled Scafell Pike - England’s highest mountain - on April 30.

Members of the group will take on Wales’ Mount Snowdon, on May 29, and will complete the challenge when they climb the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, on July 30.

Ms Bashir and her team want to raise money for the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal, which aims to set up cancer-focused hospitals in Pakistan.

The charity was set up by Pakistan cricket legend turned politician Imran Khan following the death of his mother from cancer, and has already established hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar, and aims to build a hospital dedicated to providing free cancer care in each of Pakistan’s provinces.

Ms Bashir, an English as a second language teacher from Frizinghall, said the first walk up Scafell Pike wasn’t too complicated but was still a challenge.

She said: “Scafell was my first challenging mountain to climb but exceptionally beautiful offering spectacular views.

"We chose to ascent from Wasdale Head, and the walk itself from this starting point isn’t too complicated however it’s very steep and much of it is up a staircase of rocks.

“While it’s challenging on the legs and knees, there are beautiful views to look at and waterfalls to admire, so we often paused to enjoy the surroundings - and to get your breath back.”

Despite changeable weather, Ms Bashir said that she felt a huge sense of achievement on reaching the summit at 978 metres.

“The views were atmospheric especially down towards Wasdale head, and the climb was certainly eventful; fog, snow, more fog and hailstone before eventually reaching the highest point of England.

“The sun appearing as we reached the summit gave me a huge sense of achievement, especially with my knackered right knee and a few slips on the way.”

Ms Bashir is being joined on the challenge by Asif Khan, Jamal Tariq, Stephen Brook, Halima Nawaz, Qasim Nawaz, Okhlaq Ahmad, Tariq Parvez, Zain Parvez, Mrs Nawaz and Ayesha Sawant.

“I wanted to help the Imran Khan Cancer Appeal because of the excellent work that they are doing in Pakistan,” said Ms Bashir, “before the establishment of the first hospital in Lahore in 1994, there was no such facility dedicated towards cancer patients, and to date it has saved 1000 of lives.

“Pakistan needs many more cancer hospitals.”

To support the team, you can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/shabana-bashir1 or www.ikca.org.uk/donate