Worthing woman takes on Ration Challenge to support Syrian refugees

A Worthing woman will be living on the same rations as a Syrian refugee this week to support those in refugee camps hit hardest by the pandemic.
Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081445001Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081445001
Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081445001

Anya Keiller is taking on the charity Concern Worldwide’s Ration Challenge between September 7-13 to raise money to pay for emergency food, hygiene kits and lifesaving support.

The 24-year-old said: “I decided to get involved with this initiative when I heard about how these refugee camps have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic.

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“However, I was also inspired to do this challenge due to having family myself who fled from the Yugoslavian war in the 1990s.

Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081455001Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081455001
Anya Keiller from Worthing is doing the Ration Challenge SUS-200809-081455001

“I decided that it was a good way that I personally could make a difference.”

Anya will drink only water and eat just 420g of rice, 170g of lentils, 85g of dried chickpeas, 400g of tinned kidney beans, 330ml of vegetable oil. 120g of tinned sardines (or a suitable alternative like tofu), 1.5kg of rice, 400g of flour and a spice of her choice.

She will also be able to win ‘rewards’ like vegetables depending on how much money she raises.

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She said: “When I first saw the small amount of rations I would be living on via the website, I was shocked to say the least. It is truly devastating to think that people live on these rations, day in and day out – and coronavirus means many more now face devastating hunger.

“I have been preparing for the challenge in several ways. I have been contacting local businesses to see whether they would be willing to donate flour and rice (which is the part of the ration pack you have to purchase) in exchange for the same amount of money being donated to my fundraiser.

“I have also been preparing for it by researching which vegetables weigh the least so can be spread over a variety of days, practicing recipes and by joining a fundraising team which I have done as it gives you access to each team member’s spices.

“I think it may be hard especially with the added fact of my mum being a coeliac so recipes that have been written up by the charity are liable to not work in the same way.

“Other than that I am feeling really positive.”

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Anya has so far raised around £690 of her £950 target which is enough money to feed an entire family/six people for a year..

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