From Refugee to Ultramarathon Runner: Afghan-Born NHS Nurse Inspires with Global Running Mission
Fatima Painda, a former Afghan refugee now working as an NHS nurse in Peterborough, is making headlines not only for her service in healthcare but for breaking barriers as an ultramarathon runner and advocate for Afghan women.
Painda, who fled Taliban-controlled Afghanistan at age 14, recently completed the grueling 100km CCC ultra-endurance race in France, part of the UTMB World Series. She is believed to be one of the first Afghan women ever to complete the race.
Now a deputy sister in A&E at Peterborough City Hospital, Painda has launched a global running challenge across 26 cities to raise awareness and funds for women facing injustice, particularly in Afghanistan.
“This journey is about being a voice for change,” said Painda, who trains with long-time coach Paul Harkins and balances intense training with 13-hour hospital shifts and personal fitness coaching.
Born in Ghazni, Afghanistan, Painda recalled her early years walking an hour to school and learning to run by leaping onto lorries. Her family's escape was harrowing—they were shot at by the Taliban and robbed at the Pakistan border before eventually settling in the UK.
Despite facing cultural barriers and stereotypes, Painda refuses to let prejudice deter her. “I didn’t feel I needed to fit in or change,” she said. “Running doesn’t need language—it needs heart.”
She hopes her story will inspire Muslim women and other underrepresented communities to embrace sport. “Life for women in Afghanistan is extremely challenging,” she said. “When I crossed the finish line, I felt that all Afghan women were with me.”
Featured in Women’s Running and serving as an ambassador for the NGO Free to Run, Painda says she draws strength from her family and the global causes she supports—from Afghanistan to Palestine and Lebanon.
“I’m not going to stop running or raising awareness,” she said. “If I can change just one life—through running, nursing, or kindness—I will keep going.”
