MY STORY
I was born in 1977 and grew up in a rural area in Kazakhstan, which back then was a part of the Soviet Union. To one side of our village Sosnovka was a vast steppe and to the other a beautiful pine forest.
Also Sosnovka was located 80 miles from the borders of the former Soviet Union’s main Nuclear Testing Site, called the Semipalatinskii Polygon. It functioned for 40 years, from August 1949 until the final test took place in October 1989.
In total, 456 Nuclear Tests were conducted on the Polygon, during which 616 various Nuclear Devices of enormous power were exploded in the air, on the ground, in the shafts and boreholes. The combined power of the overground tests only was more than 2,500 times of the impact of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.
I collaborate with an inspirational Kazakh Mouth Artist and an Activist of the Anti-Nuclear Movement, Mr Karipbek Kuyukov, who was born with missing arms as a direct result of the nuclear tests on the Polygon.
Together we are aiming to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of such a prolonged chronic exposure to radiation on the local population and environment.
I am a Mum and like any other parent in the world, I wish for a safe future for all the children in every country.
I live in Berkshire in England, have my own family and combine my passion for mountains with raising funds for causes close to my heart, both here in the UK and Kazakhstan.
Also Sosnovka was located 80 miles from the borders of the former Soviet Union’s main Nuclear Testing Site, called the Semipalatinskii Polygon. It functioned for 40 years, from August 1949 until the final test took place in October 1989.
In total, 456 Nuclear Tests were conducted on the Polygon, during which 616 various Nuclear Devices of enormous power were exploded in the air, on the ground, in the shafts and boreholes. The combined power of the overground tests only was more than 2,500 times of the impact of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.
I collaborate with an inspirational Kazakh Mouth Artist and an Activist of the Anti-Nuclear Movement, Mr Karipbek Kuyukov, who was born with missing arms as a direct result of the nuclear tests on the Polygon.
Together we are aiming to raise awareness of the devastating consequences of such a prolonged chronic exposure to radiation on the local population and environment.
I am a Mum and like any other parent in the world, I wish for a safe future for all the children in every country.
I live in Berkshire in England, have my own family and combine my passion for mountains with raising funds for causes close to my heart, both here in the UK and Kazakhstan.
SUPPORTED CAUSES
2018-2019 “Indira’s 12 events” raised funds for:
• The Special Care Baby Unit for premature babies at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK. I took part in an organised event each month for a year including a Brutal 10k Run, several half-marathons, a hike and a Sky Dive from 10,000ft.
2022-2023 “Aconcagua Project” raised funds for:
• The Link Foundation, a local children’s charity operating in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, UK. The Link Foundation help children and their families in difficult circumstances, regardless of background, race and religion.
• My school in Sosnovka, Beskaragai district, Abai region, Kazakhstan. The raised funds were used to update some of the sport’s equipment.
• St Piran’s school in Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. By presenting my “Aconcagua Project” at the whole school’s assembly, my sons Daniel and Dylan raised money to buy new books for the school’s library.
Together with my cousin Ms Zhamilya Bashirova, who since summited Everest, we took Mr K Kuyukov's painting to
the top of Aconcagua - the highest peak in South America.
2024 “Denali Project” raised funds for:
• The Special Centre for babies with complex needs, called “Dom Rebenka” in Semey, Kazakhstan. The Centre is a home for babies and toddlers (0-4) who were born with various physical and neurological conditions and given up for adoption. The Centre also offers daycare specialist sessions for families with babies requiring such a support.
I took another unique painting by Mr K Kuyukov to the top of Denali - the highest peak in North America.
COLLABORATION
• The Special Care Baby Unit for premature babies at Wexham Park Hospital, Slough, UK. I took part in an organised event each month for a year including a Brutal 10k Run, several half-marathons, a hike and a Sky Dive from 10,000ft.
2022-2023 “Aconcagua Project” raised funds for:
• The Link Foundation, a local children’s charity operating in Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, UK. The Link Foundation help children and their families in difficult circumstances, regardless of background, race and religion.
• My school in Sosnovka, Beskaragai district, Abai region, Kazakhstan. The raised funds were used to update some of the sport’s equipment.
• St Piran’s school in Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. By presenting my “Aconcagua Project” at the whole school’s assembly, my sons Daniel and Dylan raised money to buy new books for the school’s library.
Together with my cousin Ms Zhamilya Bashirova, who since summited Everest, we took Mr K Kuyukov's painting to
the top of Aconcagua - the highest peak in South America.
2024 “Denali Project” raised funds for:
• The Special Centre for babies with complex needs, called “Dom Rebenka” in Semey, Kazakhstan. The Centre is a home for babies and toddlers (0-4) who were born with various physical and neurological conditions and given up for adoption. The Centre also offers daycare specialist sessions for families with babies requiring such a support.
I took another unique painting by Mr K Kuyukov to the top of Denali - the highest peak in North America.