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| Refugee runner is Afghan women's 'voice for change' | Refugee runner is Afghan women's 'voice for change' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Fatima Painda hopes her journey from refugee to ultramarathon runner will inspire more women to turn to sport | Fatima Painda hopes her journey from refugee to ultramarathon runner will inspire more women to turn to sport |
| A former Afghan refugee who works as an NHS nurse wants to inspire more women, especially from the Muslim community into sports after she completed a 26-hour ultramarathon. | |
| Fatima Painda, who lives in Peterborough, grew up in the city of Ghazni, in a mountainous region of Afghanistan, but fled to the UK when she was 14 to escape the Taliban. | Fatima Painda, who lives in Peterborough, grew up in the city of Ghazni, in a mountainous region of Afghanistan, but fled to the UK when she was 14 to escape the Taliban. |
| Ms Painda, a deputy sister at Peterborough City Hospital, embarked on a global running challenge this summer, and she will be running trails and marathons across 26 cities. | Ms Painda, a deputy sister at Peterborough City Hospital, embarked on a global running challenge this summer, and she will be running trails and marathons across 26 cities. |
| She aims to be a "voice for change" and raise awareness and funds for Afghan women facing injustice. | She aims to be a "voice for change" and raise awareness and funds for Afghan women facing injustice. |
| In August, she became one of the few Afghan women, "or even the first Afghan woman", to complete the annual 100km ultra-endurance CCC race in France – part of the UTMB World Series. | In August, she became one of the few Afghan women, "or even the first Afghan woman", to complete the annual 100km ultra-endurance CCC race in France – part of the UTMB World Series. |
| Ms Painda and her six siblings grew up working on their father's farm after school, climbing hills with friends and living a "beautiful" life, she said. | Ms Painda and her six siblings grew up working on their father's farm after school, climbing hills with friends and living a "beautiful" life, she said. |
| Her school was an hour-long walk from home, and often she and her friends would run after lorries and jump on to avoid walking. That was her first experience of running. | Her school was an hour-long walk from home, and often she and her friends would run after lorries and jump on to avoid walking. That was her first experience of running. |
| But she and her family fled a few years after the Taliban took over the country in 1996. | |
| During their journey, her family was shot at by the Taliban. They were also robbed of their belongings at the Pakistan border. | During their journey, her family was shot at by the Taliban. They were also robbed of their belongings at the Pakistan border. |
| Fatima Painda completed the ultra-endurance race in September | Fatima Painda completed the ultra-endurance race in September |
| 'I didn't feel the need to fit in' | 'I didn't feel the need to fit in' |
| Fatima Painda and her coach Paul Larkins, who share a "special bond" | |
| In Peterborough, she attended Nene Park Academy and, in 2019, she graduated from the University of East Anglia. | In Peterborough, she attended Nene Park Academy and, in 2019, she graduated from the University of East Anglia. |
| She has been training with her coach Paul Larkins at Peterborough Athletics Track for about 15 years. | |
| Mr Larkins described her as "inspirational" and said he had big aspirations for her. | |
| "I felt lost when we first moved here. I missed the mountains," Ms Painda said. | "I felt lost when we first moved here. I missed the mountains," Ms Painda said. |
| "My coach has been with me through my lows and high times. | "My coach has been with me through my lows and high times. |
| "Yes, there is stigma and barriers. But I didn't feel that I need to speak English to run. For me running means you've got trainers on and you can conquer the world. | "Yes, there is stigma and barriers. But I didn't feel that I need to speak English to run. For me running means you've got trainers on and you can conquer the world. |
| "I didn't feel the need to fit in or change... I know Muslim women who have faced stereotypes. | "I didn't feel the need to fit in or change... I know Muslim women who have faced stereotypes. |
| "If a person who doesn't know me says something to me... I am not going to react. I feel it is nothing to do with me, but they might be going through something themselves. | "If a person who doesn't know me says something to me... I am not going to react. I feel it is nothing to do with me, but they might be going through something themselves. |
| "It is not easy to be that way. But you have to be so solid in your foundation." | "It is not easy to be that way. But you have to be so solid in your foundation." |
| Ms Painda juggles13-hour shifts working in the hospital with her running, as well as offering personal fitness training. | |
| She was featured in the November issue of Women's Running for being a role model for women around the globe. | She was featured in the November issue of Women's Running for being a role model for women around the globe. |
| Over the years, she has been an ambassador for Free to Run, external, a charity set up to empower women through sport in Afghanistan and Iraq. | Over the years, she has been an ambassador for Free to Run, external, a charity set up to empower women through sport in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
| She said her love and passion for running and nursing kept her going. | She said her love and passion for running and nursing kept her going. |
| Ms Painda hopes to be "a voice for change" and an inspiration for other women, especially from the Muslim community. | Ms Painda hopes to be "a voice for change" and an inspiration for other women, especially from the Muslim community. |
| She has also paid tribute to her family and called them her "backbone". | She has also paid tribute to her family and called them her "backbone". |
| “Life for women in Afghanistan is extremely challenging. It’s heartbreaking to see them being deprived of fundamental rights," she said. | “Life for women in Afghanistan is extremely challenging. It’s heartbreaking to see them being deprived of fundamental rights," she said. |
| "When I crossed that finish line in Chamonix, I felt that literally all the Afghan women were with me. I felt so strong and so great. It was a beautiful experience." | "When I crossed that finish line in Chamonix, I felt that literally all the Afghan women were with me. I felt so strong and so great. It was a beautiful experience." |
| She added: "There is so much going around in the world – in Afghanistan, to Hazara people, in Palestine, in Lebanon. So if we can spread kindness at any opportunity, we must take it. | She added: "There is so much going around in the world – in Afghanistan, to Hazara people, in Palestine, in Lebanon. So if we can spread kindness at any opportunity, we must take it. |
| "I am not going to stop running or raising awareness about the issues. If I can change one life, either through running or through nursing and kindness, I will keep going." | "I am not going to stop running or raising awareness about the issues. If I can change one life, either through running or through nursing and kindness, I will keep going." |
| Get in touch | Get in touch |
| Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? | Do you have a story suggestion for Peterborough? |
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