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

A woman from Wellesbourne has started a week-long challenge where she will live off the same food as a refugee in a Jordan urban camp.

Lauren Tucker, who is 35 and also works at Ferncumbe CE Primary School in Hatton, started the sponsored 'Ration Challenge' on Friday (September 11).

For one week Lauren will be living off the same amount of food as a refugee in a Jordan urban camp - which is a small amount of rice, lentils, oil, chickpeas, kidney beans and a tin of sardines and water.

The challenge is organised by Concern Worldwide, who send out the ration packs to participants.

Money raised will be used to support refugees in camps, and other vulnerable communities.

Lauren said: "I heard about the challenge on Facebook.

"I was inspired by the death of Mercy Baguma to research into mothers in extreme poverty and try to understand their lives and whether there was anything I could do practically to help.

"That led to the adverts on Facebook bringing up the Ration Challenge and I signed up immediately.

"I signed up alone but Concern Worldwide encourage participants to form teams of up to six people to offer support and share resources just like people living in refugee camps would do to get by.

"I met a team called The Hungry Scots through Facebook and we have so far earned almost £4,000 together.

"By joining a team we are allowed to share dried spices if anyone earns enough sponsorship so I will have salt, garlic powder and cumin to add much needed flavour to my rations."

"The challenge lasts for seven days and I will be going to work for four of them as well as keeping up with daily life and raising my two children (aged six and four)."

When asked about the food she will be eating, Lauren said: "Per day my rice (which is the main ingredient in the pack) works out at 274g a day.

"With flour, lentils, chickpeas, oil, a tin of kidney beans and a tin of sardines I'm hoping to make flatbreads, falafel one night, and lots of bowls of rice.

"I have a recipe for mujadarra which is a mix of boiled lentils and rice normally with caramelised onion but the refugees wouldn't normally have onions within ration packs.

"I have been told that day five is a tough one so I will save my sardines for that evening although I'm not looking forward to them."

Speaking about how she is feeling about the challenge, Lauren said: "I'm intimidated because returning to work in the covid situation and family life are already demanding but I'm stunned by how many people have donated - especially people I've not heard from in years.

" I'll keep going when it's tough by remembering that I only have to live on these rations for seven days while the average stay in a refugee camp is 17 years.

"That fact drives me on and breaks my heart."

"I would also like to say thank you to everyone who has already, or is considering donating - a donation of £2 would feed a refugee for five days."

To sponsor Lauren go to: https://www.rationchallenge.org.uk/lauren-tucker