Son walks nearly 100 miles from Bristol to Birmingham after mum waited a decade for kidney transplant

“She had been waiting almost a decade, when her kidney started failing”

A young Bristol man has completed a huge walking challenge to raise money for a leading kidney charity, following his mother’s transplant surgery. Adil Shaikh, 22, will pounded his way from Bristol to Birmingham over three days, earlier this month, a distance of almost 100 miles. He was walking this in aid of Kidney Care UK, just weeks after his mother Shirin, 62, had a kidney transplant. Pictured is Adil at the end of his trek in Birmingham.(Image: Adil Shaikh)

A young Bristol man has completed a huge walking challenge to raise money for a leading kidney charity, following his mother’s transplant surgery.

Adil Shaikh, 22, will pounded his way from Bristol to Birmingham over three days, earlier this month, a distance of almost 100 miles. He was walking this in aid of Kidney Care UK, just weeks after his mother Shirin, 62, had a kidney transplant.

Adil, from Southmead, studies accounting and finance at the GBS (Global Banking School) in Birmingham, commutes several times a week from his home in Bristol to the West Midlands.

He said: “I decided to do this challenge because of my mum who had a transplant earlier this year. She had been waiting almost a decade, when her kidney started failing. There have been some issues since the transplant but she is recovering well now and has returned to work.”

Turning to the challenge, Adil said he raised £313, and added: “I chose Kidney Care Uk because they help people with a range of issues around transplants, and that’s important.”

Kidney Care UK is the country’s leading kidney patient support charity. It provides practical, emotional and financial support to kidney patients and their families.

Adil followed mainly the A38 from Bristol, taking in Gloucester on his way to the GBS campus in Birmingham city centre.

He said: “I started walking early each morning, and covering over 30 miles each day, it was classed as an ultra marathon in distance, over the three days. I had blisters on the first day but was able to take care of them with a first aid kit.

“The biggest issue was shin splints on the second day, I couldn’t move my legs that night but I pushed through and actually finished ahead of time on the last day reaching Birmingham. The majority of the walk followed the A38 but I did cut through farmland and wooded areas too.”

Adil was alone for the majority of the trek but was joined by friends for 10 mile sections.

He added: “Being on your own was tough because time is long but thankfully some friends joined me in parts and I want to thank everyone who supported me in helping to raise money for Kidney Care UK.”