Eating up the miles! Nazim Ali – Yorkshire’s prolific fundraiser has raised in excess of half a million pounds over the years for numerous humanitarian causes both in the UK and abroad
The dedicated runner from Yorkshire who gobbles up the road miles for charity, set himself a new batch of running challenges over three consecutive weekends in a bid to raise as much as he can to provide survival food parcels in Uganda.
School career’s advisor, Nazim Ali, is no stranger to fundraising and has raised well over half a million pounds for humanitarian causes both in Britain and abroad by braving up to running challenges.
His mission this time, is to raise monies so that he can help buy and deliver hundreds of food parcels – carrying a month’s supply of essentials for survival to the most destitute families in Uganda, Africa.
On Sunday 11th September, Nazim AKA ‘Ramadan Runner’ (a title acquired for his famous fundraising runs while fasting), at his own expense, successfully completed the Great North Run’s half marathon (13.1 miles) in Newcastle.
Then, on Sunday 18th September, Nazim completed a 10K run in his home city of Bradford. Now he prepares himself for his third instalment, finishing off his trio of running challenges on Sunday 25th September in Sheffield where he’ll undertake another 10K run.
Talking about the Great North Run, Nazim says: “The race almost didn’t go ahead due to the sad passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and only found out on Friday lunchtime it was going ahead much to my relief, and that of the other 60,000 runners.
“As a child, I was fascinated by the Great North Run, and to have now done it twice in a row is surreal! Not ticked once but twice on my bucket list!
“It was really warm and a hilly course and was the original Great North Run route starting from Newcastle taking in Gateshead and finishing on the coast at South Shields.
“From 16 kilometres onwards I had a sharp pain in my knee and dug in for the final five-kilometres. The crowd were amazing cheering the runners on and offering us drinks, ice lollies, sweets and oranges!”
Nazim explains why he’s so passionate about delivering aid in Uganda: “41 per cent of Uganda’s population lives below the poverty line. It is amongst the poorest nations in the world with 75% of the 48 million population living in rural areas.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the poverty in Uganda. Many live in straw-roofed mud-built homes which have no electricity, water or sanitation.
“At least 20 million people don’t even have access to clean water, with much of Uganda is open water and swampland, deeming it undrinkable. This gives rise to water borne diseases.
“For the Great North Run, as I do with all my challenges, I covered all the associated costs (race fee, hotel, travel and food) so that 100 per cent of donations go to the stated cause.
“And now, God willing, from 24th October to 31st October 2022, I will be going on a wholly self-funded humanitarian aid trip to Uganda with the team from the ‘Hope for Mankind’ charity.
“I am hoping to raise at least £12,000 to provide 300 food parcels costing £40 each (Zakat applicable), which will last a poor family of five for at least one month. Each food parcel will contain at least 20kg flour, oil, 10kg rice, tea, sugar, tinned foods, lentils, breads and milk powder.”
Nazim’s also hoping to open water wells, provide community meals, sweets for children, clothes for orphans and the poor. He’ll also visit Hope for Mankind’s orphanage in the capital city, Kampala.
“Hope for Mankind is the same charity that is building the 35 homes and 75 water pumps for the poor in Pakistan, with the funds I raised during Ramadan 2022,” explains Nazim.
“I have worked with Hope for Mankind for over a year now, and they have impressed me with their timely and full feedback.”
He adds: “I am eternally thankful to the donors for their kind donations and on-going support which is hugely humbling.”
To donate, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nazim07 – if you’re a UK tax payer tick the ‘Gift Aid’ option.
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