From 22nd March 2023, over a billion Muslims around the world will begin a month of fasting during daylight hours from dawn until dusk – abstaining from eating, drinking and smoking.

This year, Shahnaz Sharif and Bhavini Patel invite you all: colleagues, clients, family and friends to commit to just 1 day of fasting between 22 March to 21 April, to raise funds for the DEC Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.

A series of devastating earthquakes hit southern Turkey and north-west Syria killing at least 50,000 people and injuring thousands more. People have been left without shelter in freezing winter conditions. Access to clean water will likely be a challenge, bringing the risk of cholera and other diseases.

DEC charities and their local partners are among the first responders, working with locally-led relief efforts to ensure people have food and clean water.

Why take part:

1. PERSONAL CHALLENGE: challenge your mind and body to fight the hunger pangs, unquenchable thirst and exhaustion

2. HEIGHTENED TASTE: on opening your fast, food tastes mouth-watering and the first gulps of water to quench your thirst can only be described as ‘liquid gold’

3. HEALTH BENEFITS: fasting has been associated with several health benefits, including weight loss, improved blood sugar control, decreased inflammation, and enhanced heart health

4. DIVERSITY & COMMUNITY SPIRIT: support your Muslim colleagues, clients, friends, neighbours and communities by experiencing the hardship of 1 day of fasting to better understand the challenge they undertake for a whole month every single year

5. BE HUMBLED: it is estimated that 25,000 people (including more than 10,000 children) die every single day from hunger and related causes. To live 1 day in the shoes of the millions around the world who will tragically not be so lucky to find a meal or a sip of water at the end of the day is devastatingly eye-opening and truly humbling

6. SUPPORT THE EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS: 50,000 people have died with many thousands injured. This disaster has affected 18m people, many of them in urgent need of shelter, food and medical aid.

What to do next:

Pick a day to fast with a group of your colleagues, friends, family and open your fast together with a shared meal when the sun sets; build stronger bonds by supporting each other through this challenge

Get involved, join this challenge, spread this message and share this link… together we can make a difference!!