Ragubir Hargun, Trade Marketing Manager at GROHE UK, and her daughter Parveen climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF).

The pair joined a special team of seven people all with personal experiences of meningitis or septicaemia, to climb Africa’s highest mountain. Ragubir and Parveen took on the challenge in memory of Paawan Purba. Paawan, who tragically died at the age of 20 in August 2016 from meningococcal meningitis, was Ragubir’s niece and Parveen’s cousin.

Parveen said: “Meningitis is a disease that can break hearts within a matter of hours. We never thought we would have to say goodbye to someone we imagined being part of every family event, every memory, every precious moment in our lives. Trekking up Kilimanjaro was incredibly hard work, but it was the most amazing experience and we are proud of our achievement. We hope our fundraising will help mean that no other family has to endure the heartbreak of losing someone so

dear, and that our loss can be used to raise awareness of the symptoms of meningitis and the vaccines that can prevent it. This is what she would have wanted”.

Following an 8 week intensive training plan, Ragubir and Parveen embarked on the seven day adventure. The group trekked through tropical rainforests, ascending through cloud level with the aim to reach Uhuru the 5,895m high ice-capped peak of Kilimanjaro, on Saturday 28 October. The group climbed together for a world free from meningitis and septicaemia; a shared objective leading to the ultimate personal achievement, conquering one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

Rob Dawson, Head of Support at MRF said, “We are extremely grateful to Ragubir and Parveen and everyone who took part in this tough challenge. The funds that they have raised will help us enormously in our research, awareness and support programmes to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what Paawan’s has as a result of meningitis and septicaemia.”

Ragubir and Parveen have raised over £5,000 and they hope to hit their target of £8,700. Donations can still be accepted at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/parveen-hargun.