A COMMUNITY champion from Bradford has raised thousands of pounds for charity by running two 10k races, one while fasting for Ramadan.

Nazim Ali, 35, from Manningham, completed the 2016 Great North 10k in Gateshead on July 3 after fasting for more than 19 hours. He did it in 58 minutes and 54 seconds and by the end of the challenge still had another ten hours before he could end his fast which meant he still had to go longer without water.

“I was blown away by all the support and raised over £12,000 for the Dewsbury-based SKT welfare’s Syrian orphans sponsorship programme for their flagship Springs of Hope orphanage and family centre in the Turkish/Syrian border town of Reyhanli,” he said. Mr Ali visited the Reyhanli orphanage in May this year to see its work for himself. He also helped hand out 2,500 food parcels to refugee families and had helped raised £22,000 for that mission.

On Sunday, July 10, he was pounding the streets again and completed the Leeds 10k in 57 minutes and 39 seconds, making more than £1,100 for SKT welfare’s clean water desalination plant in Gaza in the Middle East.

Mr Ali was sponsored for both runs by Clarus opticians of Keighley, the Shimla Spice group of restaurants and Girlington Community Centre-based W-childcare after-school club where he is a director.

“My humble efforts would not be possible without the generosity and ongoing support of the donors, it is because of them that those in poverty and needy around the world are benefitting from vital aid,” he said.

Mr Ali, who is also a lay magistrate on the North and West Yorkshire Advisory Committee, has been involved in community and humanitarian initiatives for almost 18 years. In 2010 he was voted community champion by the public in the Telegraph & Argus active citizens awards.

Mr Ali recently helped organise Eid toys to be handed over to poorly children at Bradford Royal infirmary. Youngsters from W-Childcare gave about 30 gifts to the wards.

Hospital play leader Alison Kay said: “It’s lovely that W-childcare have thought about us and brought our children presents for Eid.

“We are always very grateful because toys get used a lot by our patients as they help distract them while they are in hospital.”

Mr Ali said: “I spent a large part of my early childhood in the children’s ward in Bradford Royal Infirmary due to my struggle with tuberculosis and I know too well how at times you feel the loneliness and miss being at home with your family.”