Sunderland woman to eat just rice and beans for a WEEK as she takes on ration challenge to help refugees

Gillian Doyle will eat only rice and beans for seven days as she highlights the plight of those living in refugee camps.

The 52-year-old’s commitment is part of a fundraising initiative organised by charity Concern Worldwide, which looks to raise awareness of the struggles faced by refugees each day.

Gillian, from Roker, felt compelled to help after hearing of the hardship faced by Syrian refugees forced to flee from war.

Taking place next month – between September 13 and September 19 – the ration challenge will see Gillian team up with others taking part across the country, to raise sponsorship from the effort.

The more funds that each team raises, the more supplies they will be given in order to vary their diet over the course of the week.

So far Gillian has raised £150 for the charity, with funds helping to provide emergency food, hygiene kits and life-saving support to refugees.

Money raised will also go towards supporting Concern's wider work of ending hunger and extreme poverty in the world's poorest places.

Gillian, has already received her ration pack, which consists of a sachet of lentils, sachet of rice, 400g of flour, a packet of chickpeas, a tin of kidney beans and some oil.

She said: "It has been really humbling to see the ration pack.

"I cried when I opened it. For me it’s just eating it for a week, it’s nothing, but when you see it and think people are living off just this.

"I had seen the ration challenge advertised on Facebook and it was something I was instantly drawn to.

“We are so privileged here. People in these refugee camps are going through a horrendous time, so I just thought if I can take a week out of my life to do something.

"It’s not just about raising money, although that is extremely important, it’s about getting the message out there and starting a conversation so that people can have their eyes opened to such an important issue.”

To donate visit: https://www.rationchallenge.org.uk/gill-doyle

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