- A Blackburn Muslim man has raised over £2,400 by running the Berlin Marathon to support victims of the Morocco earthquake.
- He plans to fly to Morocco to deliver aid and support to the victims.
A Blackburn Muslim man has run his seventh marathon to raise funds to support victims of the Morocco earthquake.
Participating in the Berlin Marathon, Raja Aslam raised more than £2,400 as he prepares to fly to Morocco, from September 28 until October 2, to deliver aid and support to the victims.
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“I want to offer my support during any natural disaster, so I can support young children and families,” Raja told Lancashire Telegraph.
“They have lost their lives and homes.
“We are so lucky here, with our homes and health which is why I want to provide food, aid, shelter, and whatever else I can give.
“IT has been devastating watching the news and learning about what’s happening over there.”
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco at 11:11 p.m. on Sept. 8, causing mass death in mountain villages near the epicenter that have collapsed in on themselves. At least 2,946 deaths were reported, with most occurring outside Marrakesh.
The United Nations reported that roughly 300,000 people were likely affected by the earthquake. UNICEF said that included 100,000 children.
Several Islamic charities, such as Muslim Hands, Islamic Relief, Penny Appeal, and Muslim Aid have already issued appeals for donations.
Marathon Man
The Berlin Marathon isn’t the first fundraising event for Aslam. The 35-year-old ran the Manchester Marathon while fasting during Ramadan in April.
He raised £2,867 for Abu Faisal Trust, a charity fundraising for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
“Earlier this year, I was helping in Syria and Turkey after earthquakes hit there,” he said.
“I want to experience this first hand. It will be my first time ever actually going out and supporting the people affected.
“The kids love helping me fundraiser. We have been collecting money via buckets, so they have an idea of what we are doing and why.
“I am looking forward to the marathon this time around. I am aiming to complete the marathon in under four hours. I at least want to beat my personal best time of four hours 10 minutes.”