Mum: I’ll eat as refugees of Syria do, to help them even more

AN NHS worker is extending her support to the millions of Syrians around the world that are living in terrible conditions in emergency refugee camps.

In an effort to generate funds for this vital cause Sylvie Cave – a selfconfessed foodie, vegan and mother of young twins – is taking part in Ration Challenge Syria, a charity food challenge that seeks to help refugees living in Jordan.

For one week, Sylvie will only eat ration packs, the same rations that are issued to Syrian refugees after they’ve arrived in the camps, having fled their war-torn homeland.

Sylvie, who is originally from Runcorn but is now living in Southport, works as a biomedical scientist in haematology and blood transfusion at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

The ex-St Chad’s Catholic and Church of England High School student will continue to work her regular shift pattern at the hospital whilst taking part in the challenge.

Sylvie expects the challenge to be a humbling experience, one that will highlight the difficulties that are faced every day by refugees living within the camps around the world.

Sylvie said: “These poor people have already lived through a nightmare, being displaced from their country by war. Many have lost loved ones, their homes, possessions, their careers, basically everything. I am hoping to raise some money for food and healthcare in the Jordan camps and spread awareness to remind everyone that these people are still out there and they need our help.”

The ration pack that Sylvie will live off for a week consists of: 420g of rice, 170g of lentils, 85g of dried chickpeas, 120g of tinned sardines, 400g of tinned kidney beans and 330ml of vegetable oil.

Sylvie said: “I am a big foodie and it is not going to be an easy week for me at all, but at the end of the day, it is only one week.

“There are so many people living off these kinds of rations indefinitely who simply cannot switch back to their luxurious lifestyle after seven days.”

Sylvie’s initial target was £250 but she has changed the goal to £500 and has, so far, raised £435.40 through her sponsored ration challenge which is organised by the humanitarian charity, Concern Worldwide.

This small figure can provide a variety of different essentials for those living in the camps.

£25 can fund a visit to a medical centre for two refugees.

£39 can provide three months’ worth of food rations for a refugee.

£81 can provide a two-week training course for a Syrian woman, giving her the skills and the knowledge required to start her own business which will allow her to support her family.

£157 can provide an entire year’s worth of food rations.

Any funding that is raised by the ration challenge will be used to provide emergency food, hygiene kits and life-saving support for refugees, as well as support Concern’s wider work, ending hunger and extreme poverty in the world’s poorest locations.

Sylvie said: “I have not done a sponsored charity event since the sponsored silences of primary school days and I’m incredibly nervous.

“The most difficult part for me will be the lack of caffeine and sugar.

“When it is over, I plan to have a huge cup of tea in the biggest mug I can find!”

Sylvie’s Ration Challenge Syria will get under way this Sunday (September 13).

If you would like to make a donation to Sylvie’s challenge, you may do so on her fundraising page https:// www.rationchallenge.org.uk/sylviecave.