Ghazala, was born in 1963, in Lahore, Pakistan, when still a baby, her family moved to London and she grew up in Twickenham. She has led an active life, being involved in rock-climbing, mountaineering, running, skiing and swimming, both in the UK and abroad. She loves the outdoors and now lives in the beautiful Derbyshire Peak District.
She is married to the mountaineer Roger Mear, who in 1986, with Robert Swan and Gareth Wood, made the first unsupported walk to the South Pole with the expedition ‘In the Footsteps of Scott’. For this achievement, all three members were awarded the Queen’s Polar Medal.
In 1996, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and had a year off work for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Focusing on the positive aspects and being determined to be well, both physically and emotionally, helped her through that year. Having been a keen long distance runner, and never accepting that she would be anything other than recovered after her treatment, the following year with a 30% reduction in lung function, she ran the Sheffield Marathon.
The whole experience, despite the difficulties, was positive for Ghazala and it enabled her to develop resilience, determination, humility, compassion and patience. During this podcast we learn more about Ghazala, her life, the decisions she’s made to get to where she is and what she’s learned along the way.
Show notes
Living in the beautiful peak district and working as a surgeon in Sheffield
Who is Ghazala and why she loves fitness
Becoming an environmentalist
Having 2 sons - 14 and 10 years old
Having to adjust her life after children
Loving to swim in the open air swimming pool
Growing up in Twickenham with 3 brothers
Joining the mountaineering club at University and getting into walking and rock climbing
Meeting her husband on the summit of the Matterhorn
Being at a crossroads in her life
Getting access to the mountains
Taking on big wall climbing - Angels Landing
Ice climbing in Scotland
Balancing life as a surgeon, with climbing and children
Keeping up running after her first child
Getting help with the children
Being 3 stone overweight after the birth of her first child and getting back into fitness
1996 being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Learning patience and having gratitude
Going on a healing course and working through personal issues
Deciding to love her tumour
Setting a new challenge after chemo
Completing the Sheffield Marathon and being able to move on from the illness
Building her confidence back up
A big road/climbing trip
The South Pole Energy Challenge - to walk the final 60 miles (the final degree)
2041 Foundation
The significance of 2041
Step by step helping to raise awareness and raising funds for the challenge
Par helium and wanting to see it
Tips for fundraising and getting sponsorship
Being on the ice for 2.5 weeks - getting hypothermia and how she dealt with it
Taking the positives from a negative situation
Final words of advice
Why music plays a big part of her life
Social Media
Website - www.stepbystep.scot
Twitter - @ghazala_mear
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