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Ramadan runners raise funds for soup kitchen

Louise Parry
BBC News, Buckinghamshire
Ramadan Runners Five men posing for a photo in their bright running gear. Two wearing baseball caps crouch on the floor and hold up their fingers in a peace sign, while the other three lean forwards with their thumbs up. They are in a town centre and the sky is blue behind them. Ramadan Runners
The group began in 2022 and has grown to about 15 members

A running group is doing a daily 5km throughout Ramadan to raise money for a soup kitchen.

The Chiltern Champions raised £3,605 in 2022 for the Big Community Takeaway, but this year the hot meals are being provided by volunteers at Cheshum Mosque in Buckinghamshire.

Javad Malik, from the group, said: "We thought 'Why don't we start up our own takeaway?', so that's where the soup kitchen came into play."

The group was also taking part in the daily run to improve their mental well-being during the period of fasting.

"Fasting is for God, but your body is for you," he said.

"It's very easy during Ramadan to only look after one, but it's important to look after both."

Javad Malik Three runners wearing high-vis yellow or green t-shirts, running on a narrow country lane, with a hill and trees in the background.Javad Malik
Runners donate £5 for every run they do and are asking the public to donate as well

About 15 members of the Chiltern Champions - from various parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and north London - are taking part.

The volunteers at the mosque are providing hot takeaways every Saturday to people of any background.

"Last Saturday was our first operation and we moved about 60 meals, out of 100 we'd budgeted for," said Mr Malik.

"The remaining ones we took to retirement homes and offered to neighbours.

"The food bank are a wonderful partner, who signpost their clients to us."

Javad Malik Javad finishes a marthon and waves his hands in joy. He wears a black tshirt with Ramadan Runners on the front, and also the words "World Central Kitchen". He has a white baseball cap on backwards and has a grey beard and moustache. It is quite dark and it looks like the New York marathonJavad Malik
Mr Malik has run several marathons and says running improves his mental well-being

Mr Malik said the runners completed their exercise shortly before breaking their fast.

"It is tough, but we time our runs so we finish it half an hour before sunset, so it's not long before we can get hydrated.

"It's easy to binge during this season, but we're trying to avoid that.

"We're enjoying the stamina and discipline you need as a runner – that is important too.

"I'm feeling very well. That's what amazes us always, that some of our best runs are happening during Ramadan."

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