A man who has raised over £10,000 for charity is to test his limits by doing a 10k run during a fast that lasts around 19 hours.
Nazim Ali from Bradford, plans to take part in the Leeds 10k run on 20 July whilst fasting, refraining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset as part of the Islamic month of Ramadan.
This will mean he won’t even be able to drink any water before, during or soon after the race, because his fast will start six hours before, and finish around 12 hours after the race begins.
But it’s not stopping him from fundraising to help provide food and other essential items for refugees in Hatay, Turkey, as part of the Penny Appeal charity’s Syria Emergency Appeal.
He told the Yorkshire Standard: “The challenge will be both physically and mentally draining as I will have no access to water, but my struggle is nothing in comparison to the plight of the Syrian refugees.
“In late October, I will be visiting the Turkish/Syrian border to distribute aid to the refugees and see the work Penny Appeal are doing on the ground first-hand.”
Mr Ali has raised over £10,000 for a plethora of causes through running several marathons and taking part in mountain treks. He even limped his way through the Bradford 10k run in March with a torn left calf.
He currently acts as general secretary at the Bradford-based community organisation Naqshbandia Active Development Association (NADA), and is also an ambassador for Penny Appeal.
Head of fundraising at the charity, Yousaf Razaq, said: “We at Penny Appeal are wholeheartedly supporting Nazim every step of the way and will be on hand on the day to cheer him on.
“Nazim’s charity exploits are well-known but he really is taking on a massive challenge for a massive cause, running a 10k run is a challenge in itself but to do it with a 19 hour fast with no access to water is incredible.”
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