A MEDICAL student is organising a run to raise money for an international medical organisation.

Alisha Allana, of Albury Drive, Pinner, has been active in supporting non-governmental organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) since she began studying medicine at University College London (UCL) five years ago.

She is now the lead organiser of the London-wide charity run taking place on March 16, which will raise money for MSF, which delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare.

The 22-year-old said: “As the coordinator of the run this year, my hope is not only to raise a substantial amount of money for MSF, but perhaps more importantly, to raise awareness about MSF and the amazing work it carries out around the world. I have always been involved with MSF, which helps more than 60 countries across the world and has recently been in Syria.

“I am really keen to qualify as a doctor and be even more involved with MSF. I worked in a GP surgery in Hatch End for a month and absolutely loved it.”

Alisha is hoping the public will sign up to do either the 5km or the 10km run in a bid to help raise £10,000 target for MSF.

She said: “It would be great to get as many local people involved as possible, some of my Pinner friends and my family are helping out, but the more the better. I have lived in Pinner for 15 years now, so hopefully the local community will show their support.

“Lots of people are joining in who are not keen runners and there are some who will be running in fancy dress. I am hoping for roughly 400 participants, so far we have just over 100. This is the first big charity event I have organised for MSF, so I am hoping it will be a success.”

Entry for the run is £10 and participants are asked to raise money for MSF through sponsorship, though there is no minimum amount you must raise.

n For more information about the run, see www.fomsfrun.com or to learn more about MSF visit www.msf.org.uk.