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Blind snowboarder raising money for charity

featured in News & reviews Author Ellie Mahoney, Chamonix Editor Updated

A blind snowboarder hopes to raise £50,000 for Pakistani earthquake victims by undertaking a heliboarding challenge on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.

Scot Adil Latif, 24, was born with a degenerative eye disorder and currently has only 5% eye vision. Despite this, he is planning to snowboard down the impressive Col du Pyramid in Val Venis near the Italian resort of Courmayeur, in order to raise funds.

Adil, from Glasgow, said: "This is an extreme response to an extreme disaster. Many are starting to forget the scale of such a tragedy." The management consultant hopes to raise enough money to buy shelter for earthquake victims.

A former graduate of the University of Strathclyde, he has had initial training sessions at Lake Placid in New York. He will be joined on the day of the heliboard by a guide whose job it will be to stay closely behind Adil and communicate through a wireless headset.

Adil's family, who originate from the Pakistani city of Lahore, are concerned but supportive. He said: "All my family are behind me. My mother is worried but that's mothers for you. It means a lot to me that they are backing me. All I need now is for everyone else to dig into their pockets and help those who are less fortunate than ourselves."

He is currently undergoing further training in Chamonix this week, receiving instruction from Scottish snowboard instructor Keith McIntosh. He said: "I'm fully aware of the risks involved but there are dangers for everyone involved in snowboarding. When the big day arrives I plan to be at a high standard."

Adil will attempt the charity heliboard in November. If you would like to support him in his challenge then please click here

Article courtesy of BBC News