British ‘Ramadan runners’ raise funds for food poverty charity
April 15, 2022, 4:11 am

British ‘Ramadan runners’ raise funds for food poverty charity

Half of Muslims living in the UK will struggle to feed their families during Ramadan (File photo: Pixabay)

The Arab News reported, Buckinghamshire’s “Ramadan runners” have so far raised more than £1,800 ($2,360) for a food poverty charity by cycling, running, or walking 5 km everyday during Ramadan.

Otherwise known as The Chiltern Champions, the group are raising the funds for The Big Community takeaway, which offers those in need a two-course meal in the county, with 2022 marking the second year they have participated in the event.

Group spokesperson, Javad Malik, told the BBC: “We’re doing it partly because during Ramadan we typically challenge ourselves spiritually.

“We do extra charitable deeds. It’s what we call the month of mercy, we hope God shows us mercy and as a result we show other people mercy.”

The Chiltern Champions are raising funds for The Big Community takeaway which offers those in need a two-course meal in the county (File photo: Arab News via Javad Malik)

Malik added that the runners were exhausted but remained motivated by their “fantastic cause.”

According to Malik, there has been a notable increase in the number of people claiming food parcels in the area he is from, Chesham, and it was this that inspired the group.

Muslims will observe holy month of Ramadan twice in the year 2030

Contending that running 5 km every day of Ramadan “would be asking a lot,” he noted that he and a friend, who together started the challenge last year, both ran their fastest 10 km during Ramadan.

He continued: “Something amazing does happen when you’re fasting, (but) we’re just taking it easy and not going mad."

Charities warn half of British Muslims will struggle to feed their families during Ramadan

“The timings of all of this are really important. We run about an hour before Iftar, when we can actually break our fast and eat but not being able to take liquids for 14 hours before is a bit much.”

Source: arabnews

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