Emdad Rahman
The Fasting 5k, also known as the Thawb Trek, welcomed 30 runners, who all took part in a pre-sunset 5k run at Mile End Park to raise awareness and funds for the desperate situation faced by Syrian orphans.
The event, sponsored by Human Aid, took place in Tower Hamlets during the evening of a hot summer’s day which had temperatures reaching 23 degrees. By the time the event started, all the runners had been fasting for 17 hours straight. There were no bottles of water or energy snacks distributed by volunteer race marshals along the run route.
The unrest in Syria has forced over 400,000 Syrian children to flee their homes and turn to places like Lebanon to find a secure place to lead their lives, even if it means a safe place to live under the sky between rubble and rocks. Many orphan children are forced to work on the streets to survive – with others left to roam around by themselves to find shelter, food and water in appalling and traumatising situations.
Human Aid UK is turning a disused building into an orphanage which will provide 66 Syrian orphans and 22 widows with food, shelter, healthcare, safety and psychosocial support.
Children who have fled Syria to Lebanon have witnessed and experienced things no child should. Despite the suffering, children have an amazing ability to recover and heal. They want to learn and they want a better future. Your donation will ensure that an orphan has a roof over their head and gets the chance to live.
Fasting 5k organiser Abu Bakkar said, “We’ve delivered another memorable event and this will help to raise awareness of needy orphans but also dispel negative myths about Muslims. We are among the most generous and committed communities on the planet, but our image is determined by a negative handful. I hope that rational humans will see us for what we are, as this event has served so many positive purposes.”
The successful and memorable run was completed before sunset. All runners received certificates during a presentation ceremony before they broke their fast together at sunset.
•Human Aid UK is an international humanitarian charity which strives to alleviate the suffering of the oppressed. Their mission is to bring hope to life by connecting hearts to the oppressed, and by providing dignity, empowerment and independence. For more information and/or to donate, go to: https://www.human-aid.org/
•Read more about it: Has Syrian regime used chemical weapons again? http://eastlondonnews.co.uk/has-syrian-regime-used-chemical-weapons-again/
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