Maidenhead woman to climb Mount Denali to raise funds for those affected by nuclear testing in Kazakhstan

A Maidenhead woman is set to climb the highest mountain peak in North America to raise funds for those impacted by the effects of nuclear testing by the former Soviet Union at a site in Kazakhstan. 

Indira Weaver, 46, will be making her way up Mount Denali in Alaska from Tuesday, May 28, having already made it to the top of three other peaks as part of her goal to climb the seven highest summits located on each of the traditional continents around the world. 

Originally from Kazakhstan, Indira grew up in the small village of Sosnovka, situated closed to the Semipalatinsk Test Site, otherwise known as The Polygon. 

The site was the principal testing area for the Soviet Union’s nuclear weapons, with hundreds of both underground and atmospheric tests carried out. 

“My village was about 130 kilometres from its borders and in the period between 1949 and 1989, 456 nuclear tests had been done [at] The Polygon. 

“The impact was enormous - the radiation through the pollution of the air, the underground water sources, the food chain, the animals, the plants, the people,” Indira said.

Following the start of the testing, babies started being born with genetic mutations, she explained, and there was a high rate of infant mortality. 

There have also been high rates of people being diagnosed with different types of cancers, Indira added. 

So far, she has climbed three of the seven summits, namely Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Elbrus in southern Russia and Mount Aconcagua in Argentina. 

She is now climbing the 6,190m Alaskan mountain to raise awareness of the consequences of the nuclear testing and rase funds for children and adults affected in Semey, Kazakhstan. 

As part of the Semey Polygon Project, Indira has been collaborating with well-known and 2017 Nobel Prize nominee Kazakh artist Karipbek Kuyukov, who was born without any arms as a direct result of the nuclear explosions and uses his mouth and toes to paint. 

Last year, Indira took a painting by Karipbek, who is also an activist and international public speaker, to the top of Aconcagua and this year she will be taking another of his works to the top of Mount Denali. 

Through the climb, Indira is hoping to raise funds to support children and adults who have been affected and those living with disabilities. 

Earlier this month, Indira held an event at Norden Farm to share the news of her upcoming expedition and the story of the nuclear testing in Kazakhstan. 

The event was attended by about 45 people, including friends, family, and those from Kazakhstan living in the UK. 

Last year, Indira took a banner for The Link Foundation up to the top of Aconcagua and chair Una Loughrey and trustee and social media manager Nicola Ross attended the event to discuss the work the foundation does. 

“By doing these kinds of projects, I would love to inspire boys and girls to try to achieve their true potential,” Indira added. 

She has currently raised more than £650 of her £6,194 target on GoFundMe. To donate to her fundraiser, visit: tinyurl.com/dbnaymxk