A FORMER headboy from Cranbourne Business and Enterprise College is completing 12 challenges, despite breaking his leg, after losing his younger sister to a heart condition.

Akid Zolkifli is challenging himself to carry out the gruelling challenges in memory of his 11-year-old sister Nurfarha – who died four years ago of an atrial septal defect, commonly known as a hole in the heart.

The 26-year-old was told that his sister was in hospital in Malaysia, where she lived with Akid’s father and step-mother, when he was in France on a trip with Bath University and decided against flying back to see her – a decision that has fuelled his hunger to complete the different tests.

“It’s all about trying to keep the memory of my sister alive,” Akid said.

“I miss her every day and not being able to be by her side when she passed away is something that I have always regretted and in a way I feel like I am paying for it.

“Hopefully these challenges will help repay something and raise some money and awareness as well.

“My sister lived until she was 11-years-old, so I wanted to reflect her age in the challenge and do one more for her.”

Akid has completed seven challenges since September 2015, but his preparations for the final five were hit after he was knocked off his bike at Basingstoke train station in February and broke his leg.

Despite this, Akid has continued to train and in May attempted to complete the Edinburgh marathon – walking around the course on crutches. 
In Edinburgh he was supported by his mother Sofia Low Phillips, 52, and his 17-year-old sister Amirah.

Although he was unable to complete the course, Akid refused to postpone participating and his inspiring story captured the imagination of many fellow competitors and supporters in Edinburgh.

“I’m so proud of him – it’s crazy,” Sofia, who lives in Brighton Hill, said.

“Although he broke his leg, he carried on at the marathon and I was so happy that we could support him.

“It’s awesome what he has done and when you read some of the comments about him it just makes me so proud and this is what keeps Akid going even though he is in pain.”

Akid, who now lives Wandsworth in London after graduating from Bath with a masters in chemical engineering, is raising money for the British Heart Foundation and Spurgeons - a charity that aims to ensure that every child has an opportunity for childhood and an equal chance to fulfil their dreams.

He hopes to regain his fitness to complete his final five challenges, which include cycling to Paris in 24 hours with a friend on a tandem bike.

“I just want to raise money so we can provide something to other people,” Akid added.

“My memories of that time in France always come back to me but hopefully this will help raise awareness of Nursarha’s condition.”

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