Muslim Lads on Charity Exercise Mission While Fasting Ramadan

Though Ramadan fasting might push some Muslims to take more rest for their bodies, a group of Muslim youth in Birmingham are using the holy month to practice sport and raise funds for charity.

Known as the Road Raptors, the Birmingham running club consists of 11 friends and cousins. They will run 1,000 miles and do 10,000 press ups to raise money for victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquakes.

The club members came together after noticing community members and relatives dying at young age due to heart conditions and diabetes. Therefore, they formed the running club to promote health and fitness.

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“The first few days we were slow but then our bodies got used to it, then we ran a bit faster. People in Turkey and Syria have it harder than us so we can at least try,” club member Bilal Dalvi, 28, told Birmingham Mail.

“We saw people in our community and family dying at 50-years-old, some from heart attacks or diabetes. All these health problems and we thought what is going on? My uncle passed away in his 50s so people are losing a big chunk of their adult life. We then saw elderly people in Perry Barr and Aston running and thought, why don’t we try that?”

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Consisting of only 11 members, they hope to expand the club to include people of all ages and backgrounds.

Their achievements have included the London Marathon, the Great Birmingham Run, Ben Nevis and soon the Manchester Marathon 2023.

So far they have raised 80% of their £1,000 goal which will go to Islamic Relief efforts for the earthquake victims.

“We ran the Birmingham half marathon and realized we liked it, then in 2017 we wanted to raise money for charity and raised £3-4k which was amazing. At first people thought, what are you guys doing? Then the Masjids promoted us and then people thought, this is good,” Dalvi said.

“Running has no limits, you can run a marathon whilst fasting. Find your comfort zone and get out of it, you will be surprised by what your body can do.”

SOURCE: https://aboutislam.net/muslim-issues/europe/muslim-lads-on-charity-exercise-mission-while-fasting-ramadan/