Adeel Malik
The summer’s Ramadan fasts have been long and testing but one non-Muslim has taken them all in his stride!
Lewis Todd, aged 18 who works at Bootstrap Enterprises in Blackburn decided to fast on the first day of Ramadan just to experience what fellow workers and friends at his office were going through.
“I thought I would do the first day and see if I could go without food or drink for the whole day.
Then I challenged myself to do seven days. My plan was only to do a week really. And then two weeks.
Now, I am going to be completing the whole month.”
When Asian Image spoke to Lewis he had been fasting for 29 days and he was delighted that he had managed to last the whole month.
“I have to admit the first week was the toughest and on the first day I did get a headache. The first few days were the hardest and I started losing concentration once!
“It was also very hot during that first week. The big thing for me was the drink. But then like most things I got used to it.”
“My family didn’t think I would do it at first as I do have breakfast and then a three course meal for lunch and a big supper.
“When I did the first week they were really supportive.”
Lewis lost over a stone during the last month but has received motivation from some of his work colleagues and friends.
“I would eat at approximately 9.45pm and then again at 11pm and then at 12.30am before going to bed.
“I would eat dates which were good and I tried mango for the first time. Part of my daily diet every day was fruit.
“I even ended up eating a lot of Indian food like samosas and onion bhajis.”
Work colleague Shohib Zaman said, “We are really proud of him. He has made a lot of people aware of what fasting is about.
“It is nice that he took an interest in fasting. He is also embracing the culture too.
“He even got himself into Asian shopping!”
Despite the heat and the exhaustion and the longest fasts of recent years, Lewis said he would fast again next year.
“I will probably do it again next year. I started off just to appreciate what colleagues were going through.
“Once you realise that you can stick it out and go through it, then you think, well, I will do it again next year.”
