On Saturday 21 June, Ibrahim Hussain, 22, from Birmingham set off to climb Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), the highest mountain in Wales. Joined by his two older brothers and three friends, Ibrahim took on the challenge in memory of his older brother Abdul Raheem, who lived with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and sadly died in June 2023 at the age of 24. We spoke to Ibrahim to find out why he took on this challenge.
‘Hiking for Hope’: climbing Snowdon in memory of my brother
My brother, Abdul Raheem, had the most wonderful character and was a joy to be around. He was really funny, had the best smile and everyone who knew him loved him. He had this incredible way of making people feel valued and brightened up everyone’s day. He never let his condition define him or stop him from pursuing his passions.
Abdul Raheem was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy after teachers raised concerns when he was around three years old. He used to fall over quite a lot, and when my parents took him to the doctor and asked them to investigate, he was diagnosed with the condition.
He became wheelchair-bound at the age of 16 but before that he could still walk and even went on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia when he was 11. Abdul insisted on walking despite being advised to use a wheelchair, which is what he was like – very determined.
“For my brothers and I, raising awareness is equally as important as fundraising. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare condition so lots of people haven’t heard of it, but even if they have, they often still don’t really understand the day-to-day challenges.”
Muscular dystrophy doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed, it impacts families, communities, and everyone who loves them. The pain of losing my brother is something I carry every day, but through this hike, I hope to raise awareness and funds for Muscular Dystrophy UK to support research and help others who are facing similar challenges.
We called our challenge ‘Hiking for Hope’ as we believe that every step matters and that together we can do something to drive change and shift perceptions of disability.
“Duchenne muscular dystrophy slowly took away my brother’s strength, but never his spirit. He lived an amazing life with good friends around him and an unwavering determination to never let anything hold him back. His courage, resilience and positivity were truly inspiring and doing this hike two years after his passing was our way to honour his memory while helping others.”
Climbing the highest mountain in Wales was tough but so worth it. Doing this for Abdul Raheem brought us all together and reminded us how much he means to us. I’m really proud we could turn our grief into something positive by raising awareness and funds for others like him.
Support Ibrahim's fundraising
By supporting Ibrahim and his team’s efforts, you’ll be contributing to crucial research and support services for individuals living with muscle wasting conditions.
Inspired by Ibrahim's story?
Join our Ben Nevis Trek in September and help change the future of muscle wasting conditions.
