A COLCHESTER woman has raised more than £1000 for stricken refugees by drastically altering her diet to mirror the little food available to those searching for safety.

Amy Sheridan, 42, of Castle Road, has recently taken part in Refugee Awareness Week to further educate the public about the ongoing crisis by limiting herself to the same rations consumed by Syrian Refugees.

The severe drop in food consumption, entitled the Ration Challenge, saw Amy consume a pitiful and worryingly low amount of food that included tiny portions of white rice, lentils, plain flour, kidney beans, tofu and dried chickpeas.

Amy said: “Although you would not starve living off these rations, what has been difficult is not being able to have a cup of tea or coffee whenever I want one, and I have definitely missed fruit and vegetables.

“It is also not easily digestible so at the end of the week it becomes quite painful and hard to eat anything more and I have felt really tired.

“It is the lack of variety that is particularly difficult - I don’t think I’ll be eating rice again for a long time.”

Amy was inspired to take up the challenge after witnessing the refugees’ heart-wrenching desperation that has been documented on news channels and discovering that more than the 70 million people have been displaced across the world.

She was also drawn to the campaign itself after finding out the funds raised help feed the refugees and educate the children and adults so they can make a living when they finally leave the temporary settlement camps.

She said: “The few refugees I have met here have been extraordinary people, brave and resilient and resourceful in making new lives for themselves in their new homes.

“They are always working hard and contributing to the community, and I admire them hugely.

“I hope that this campaign makes people think about the things they take for granted every day, and how these people lived lives just like ours before conflict took everything away.”

To sponsor Amy, who has so far raised £1428, visit my.rationchallenge.org.uk/amysheridan.