NHS staff join community for a national fundraising fast

Staff from the South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust and Kirklees Council are today joining members of the Muslim community in a one-day fast to raise money for victims of the Pakistan earthquake.

The fast will last from sunrise (6:00 am) until sunset (5:48pm) where those who have taken part in the day will enjoy a meal together at the Pakistani Kashmiri welfare association, PKWA Staincliffe, Batley. The fasting event is one of a series of national activities which are organised across the UK, to build solidarity and understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims during the month of ramadam (the muslim month of fasting).

Phil Stewart, who works in clinical psychology helped to organise the event. "The idea came about after a local muslim cleric – Maulana Ilyas came to the Trust to talk about ramadam and fasting. Many staff asked us if they could fast for a day so they could understand and empathise with their muslim colleagues and muslim service users. We wanted to join together with the local community, and the PKWA said we could use their centre. Hopefully it will help us build closer relationships with the community, give staff insight and understanding into fasting and raise money for those less fortunate,’ he says.

There will be a collection at the PKWA and the proceeds will go to Make Poverty History Campaign & Human Appeal International. Some people are also getting sponsored for completing the fast.

Assistant psychologist Wajid Kahn who also helped to organise the fast says, "Fasting helps us remember we are more than individuals. We’re asking our colleagues to take just one day to learn what it would be like to be without food and remember the millions in our world who suffer and need our help. It is an opportunity to help break down barriers of misunderstanding & allow Non-Muslims an insight in to the different spiritual rituals which take place within the month of Ramadam."