A BRADFORD-based charity is encouraging people to take on a new fitness challenge helping to raise money for cancer patients, as well as aiming to keep people active during lockdown.

The Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA), based on Little Horton Lane, has introduced its Virtual 5k Challenge, where participants are tasked with running or walking a distance of 5k wherever they choose - whether it be their local park, their local area or even their back garden.

Those taking part do not have to run or walk the entire 5k all at once, but must keep track of their steps by using a running or fitness app of their choice.

The funds raised will support cancer patients in Pakistan, who may not have access to the same healthcare resources which are available to us here in the UK.

The IKCA - which was founded by Pakistan's former world cup-winning cricket captain and current prime minister, Imran Khan - carries out most of its work with the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital in Lahore.

The hospital was founded by Khan in 1994 and is named after his mother, who herself died of cancer in 1985.

Before its inception, there was no specialist cancer hospital in Pakistan, says IKCA manager, Ikhlaq Ahmad.

Mr Ahmad adds that those who are diagnosed with cancer in Pakistan experience a "double trauma", as on top of the "devastation" themselves and their families go through, there is no government-funded body in the country which provides support to patients, and many are unable to afford treatment.

In 2019, the Shaukat Khanum hospital provided free treatment to 75 per cent of its patients through donations, giving "small hope" to those with the illness, Mr Ahmad says.

"If you get cancer in the UK, you and your family are already devastated. But we are very fortunate in this country to have the NHS. In Pakistan, there isn't a government-funded health service - imagine your loved one gets cancer, but you can't afford the treatment", he says.

"But that's where the IKCA comes in - we cannot treat every patient, but we aim to support as many as we can.

"Through the Virtual 5k, we hope to save as many lives as possible. I've been to the Shaukat Khanum hospital three times, I've seen first-hand how it helps patients - our work goes very far.

"Normally, the IKCA takes our volunteers on treks and walks as a group, but since Covid, it's not safe to do that. But we're encouraging people to keep fit with the Virtual 5k - anyone can do it, whether you're young or old, or whether you're a beginner or you're more experienced.

"People can do it any way they like - you can do 1k on one day, then 2k another, for example.

"One of our volunteers, Aliya Darr, completed her Virtual 5k recently. It only took her 45 minutes - she ran, walked and jogged.

"Aliya has actually raised almost £25,000 for cancer patients, by climbing the Nanga Parbat and Rush Peak mountains, and also through baking, which she is very talented at."

The Virtual 5k runs until 7 March. Registration is £10 and can be made on the IKCA's page on Eventbrite.co.uk.

"The individual can set their own targets and raise whatever they can. At the end of the day, it all goes towards saving lives", Mr Ahmad says.

"Although Covid doesn't allow us to go and walk the mountains anymore, we must still try to do things at home on a treadmill, or outdoors locally, to support good causes."