A West Yorkshire charity fundraiser has surpassed £1.4 million in donations after completing his 13th annual Ramadan 10K run while fasting.
Nazim Ali finished the Derby race on Sunday 15 March, battling cold and blustery conditions to complete the course in 1:04:11 — including a trademark sprint finish.
Running while observing a 14-hour fast, Ali described the challenge as physically demanding, with strong winds and a late strain in his hip testing his endurance over the final stretch.
This year’s route took runners from Derby County Football Club’s Pride Park Stadium through the city centre, passing landmarks including Derby Cathedral and the Silk Mill, before returning along the River Derwent.
The run forms part of Ali’s long-running Ramadan fundraising campaign, which this year aims to raise £52,000 to build 20 new homes in Azad Kashmir in partnership with Green Crescent Aid UK.
Each three-room home, complete with kitchen and bathroom costs £2,600, replacing unsafe structures in the remote village of Charhoi. Ali, whose family roots trace back to the region, said the project holds deep personal significance.
With pledges continuing to come in, the total is expected to exceed £70,000.
The latest effort means Ali has now raised more than £1.4 million for charitable causes across the UK and overseas, cementing his reputation as one of the region’s most committed grassroots humanitarians.
Backed by long-term sponsors including Saveco Cash & Carry, as well as local businesses Aromès and Spudwarma, Ali paid tribute to supporters who have sustained his work over nearly three decades.
His partnership with Green Crescent Aid UK spans more than nine years and includes international deployments to countries such as Malawi, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Lebanon, delivering housing, food aid and emergency support to vulnerable communities.
Alongside his global efforts, Ali continues to lead initiatives closer to home, including a weekly community kitchen providing hot meals for those in need, and hospital visits distributing gifts to children.
In recognition of his service, he was awarded a British Empire Medal in the King’s New Year Honours 2025 and previously received an honorary fellowship from University of Bradford.
Despite working full-time as a careers adviser, Ali self-funds his charity work and training, continuing to combine professional life with an unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes.
Donations to support this year’s appeal remain open.
