ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُم

We are 3 students studying at the University of Manchester who are looking forward to running the 2022 Manchester Marathon! None of us have officially completed a marathon before and only 1 of us would consider ourselves much of a long-distance athlete. Below we have each written a little bit about why we want to compete in this marathon and there is a further paragraph explaining the humanitarian crisis currently happening in Yemen. 

Why we’re running… 

Sully - “ Why are you running?“ (iykyk). My main reason for running is to get out of my comfort zone. Running a marathon has always been on my bucket list and is hopefully the first step into completing an iron man and 100 mile race in the future. 

Talib - For a long time, the idea of running a marathon seemed like an impossible task. This very self-doubt is the reason why I want to overcome my own physical/mental barriers and prove to myself and others alike, that it is very much possible. The images of war-stricken, malnourished Yemeni children online and on social media speak for themselves, therefore knowing that this journey could also potentially benefit our brothers and sisters in Yemen is another big motivator as to why I want to make sure I cross that 26.2 mile finish line. Insh’Allah. 

Abdullah - Roughly 0.01% of the world’s population run a marathon every year and you can imagine how much lower that percentage is for people that complete it while fasting. So, my main motivation for wanting to complete this marathon is to become a part of this elite group. Furthermore, enduring this struggle of no food or water for the people of Yemen not only brings about endless rewards from Allah, but will also give me deep inner satisfaction.

24 million people are in need of humanitarian aidWith families facing ongoing armed conflict, displacement, disease and economic decline, an estimated 24 million people are now in need of humanitarian aid to survive a figure so high that it is in fact the highest across the globe.Yemen now officially hosts the worlds largest human-induced food security crisis.Families and communities have been torn apart and left without even the most basic of living essentials:- 19.7 million people need basic healthcare- Almost 18 million people are in need of water and sanitation facilities- Over 3 million people have been left displaced by conflictOn the ground: A country on the edge of famineIslamic Relief is on the ground in 17 of the countrys 22 governorates, providing essential food aid to families at risk of famine and facing extensive food insecurity.With your support we can help these communities in their hour of need.Donate Now and help save lives.