A NOVICE cyclist faced downpours as she led the Children In Need Rickshaw challenge through Solihull.
Sanna Ahmad joined broadcaster Matt Baker on Thursday, October 20, when the The Rickshaw Relay Rides Again (1×60) completed its West Midlands leg.
Until now she has never ridden a bike but she was determined to play her part and help raise funds for the annual fundraiser headed by mascots Pudsey and Blush.
She set off from Birmingham University and traveled through Shirley, Monkspath, Dorridge past Baddesley Clinton and finished the day in Kenilworth.
The 20-year-old is one of five young people, all of whom have been supported by BBC Children in Need funded projects, who has been chosen take on a relay-style ride over five days.
Sanna has an inherited blood disorder, called Thalassemia, which means there’s less haemoglobin in her blood, which is needed to carry oxygen around the body.
Every four weeks Sanna spends a day in hospital having a blood transfusion, without this she’d become anaemic and extremely tired.
Although not outwardly visible, Thalassemia impacts heavily on day to day life. As a child Sanna often found herself too tired to join in with activities or be able to fully participate in school life.
At 12 years old she was introduced to OSCAR Birmingham, a project supporting children with Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia and is funded by BBC Children in Need.
Now Sanna is still at OSCAR to mentor younger children, giving the same support back that she once received and she has also been inspired to train as a child nurse.
Observer photographer Marcus Mingins captured these images as Sanna, Matt Baker and the team were in Dorridge.
