Wellesbourne woman lived off same amount of rations as a refugee to raise money and awareness

Lauren Tucker, 35, who works at Ferncumbe CE Primary School in Hatton, started the sponsored Ration Challenge on Friday September 11.

For one week she lived off a small amount of rice, lentils, oil, chickpeas, kidney beans, a tin of sardines and water.

She raised £924 through sponsorship but donations are still coming in and the fundraising page is active until Christmas.

The team she is part of has raised £5,395.

And in the In the whole of the challenge so far this year they have raised £1,458,603 - enough to feed 9,290 refugees for a year.

Lauren said: "Tough as the challenge was, at least it was only seven days and not 17 years- the average time spent in a camp.

"I found the challenge really eye opening as i felt myself showing down physically and mentally with the restricted diet.

" I became disinterested in food and still haven't got my appetite back.

"I lost half a stone in the seven days of the challenge and struggled with headaches, back ache and stomach aches as I detoxed from caffeine.

"I also had a huge increase in thirst and found myself drinking four litres of water a day as well as needing lots of water for soaking and cooking all of the dry foods so I do wonder how refugees living in the deserts of Jordan cope.

"Everyone wanted to know what the first thing i ate was and the truth is that when my challenge finished at midnight I did eat a maple and pecan slice but felt really ill from the sweetness of it.

"My body couldn't really cope with my usual richer diet for a few days after the challenge.

"I have had lots of amazing support for the challenge and people contacting me to share their own experiences of extreme poverty and displacement.

"It had made me realise how quickly a person can go from working a good job, having their own home and financial security, to losing everything.

"I now know this is a global issue and disaster really can strike anyone."

For more information about the challenge or to make a donation visit https://www.rationchallenge.org.uk/lauren-tucker