AN Oldham based fundraiser and charity campaigner is planning to take on the huge challenge of running 313 km while fasting.

Afruz Miah, 47, is in training to make the gruelling run from Oldham to London starting next week in aid of charity.

He initially began to run after experiencing a health scare in November 2019 when his GP warned him that he had developed hypertension- which is dangerously high blood pressure-and required a change in his life style and diet or to face a heart attack.

He said: “The doctor gave me three months to make changes and improvements, I didn’t want to go on medication for life so I decided to get fit through running. I eventually lost weight and have been running ever since. I was 16 stones and now I am 11 stones.

“I will be running 313 km over the space of 22 days in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan (April 12 to May 12) while fasting. I will have to run on average 15km a day to meet my target.

“For the first five days I will be returning home every night to minimise costs, thereafter I will stay in hotels and mosques where possible. The route has been planned and I am as ready as I will ever be.

“It will be difficult being away from my wife and children and not being able to break my fast with them. Ramadan is also a month of family so I am more worried about being away from them than running to London. My wife has been a rock by my side; all my friends and family have been amazing too.

“Throughout the journey, I will always have a first-aider with me for health and safety reasons. I hope to finish the challenge.”

In Ramadan, Muslims fast between dawn and dusk every day and have to refrain from eating, drinking and smoking.

The ex-teacher says he has been inspired by Dabirul Islam Chaudhary, 100, who raised £420,000 for charity by walking 970 laps in his garden during Ramadan last year. Afruz hopes to meet him.

The serial runner also campaigns for international causes, he has been on a humanitarian mission to Burundi "the hungriest nation in the world" and more recently visited Bangladesh where he ran 50 km for charity and distributed aid to the poor and destitute in Sylhet and Cox’s Bazaar.

He added: “Visiting Bangladesh was eye-opening, especially to see the condition of the stateless Rohingya people. It is a difficult experience to see their desperate plight with your own two eyes. The recent fire in the refugee camp has made things worse for them.

“The make-shift camps comprise of shelters made of bamboo and plastic tarpaulin. Rohingya generally have large families, I met one family of 11 who have only one breadwinner who works as a labourer. Their shelter was burned down in the devastating fire.”

“There are many NGOs (non-government organisations) and charities working there but it’s not enough although everyone is doing their bit for the Rohingya refugees. Sadly, they are not wanted in either Myanmar or Bangladesh.”

He works closely with GRT (Global Relief Trust), a British-Muslim charity which carries out humanitarian work in eight countries including Gaza, Yemen and Pakistan. He has raised £100,000 for the charity during the pandemic. They also support local projects and have experience and expertise working in conflict and disaster-hit zones.

Mahmuda Khatoon, marketing manager at GRT said: “Working with Afruz has been a great experience, he is extremely passionate about helping others and I can really see that he genuinely cares and goes out of his way to support others whether it is the community around him or the beneficiaries we are supporting across the world.”

Afruz added: “We are looking for 313 people to donate £313 each. Our target is £150,000. Donations will go towards Ramadhan food parcels, water projects and medical aid, other self-sustaining projects and building community hubs and homes.”

If anyone wants to join Afruz on his Ramadhan journey visit: https://grtuk.org/event/313-run/

To donate to the cause visit: https://givebrite.com/313