A TEACHER is gearing up to take part in a gruelling ration challenge in awareness of refugees.

Ruth Hall, a teacher at Peterlee's Dene Academy, will take part in the Ration Challenge to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and to raise funds for the charity, Concern.

From Sunday 13 to Saturday 19 of September, she will live on small amounts of rice, flour, lentils, chick peas and sardines - typically what a Syrian refugee would be provided with in a refugee camp. Ms Hall, who previously volunteered in Cameroon and Afghanistan before settling in East Durham, is no stranger to a challenge.

A few years ago, she raised money for charity by feeding herself on £5 for five days to show solidarity with people living in poverty.

Ms Hall said: “That was really tough, but I managed it and it had a big impact on me - I want to do everything I can to help people struggling both at home and abroad.

"I truly believe we are all members of one, big family and when some suffer, we all suffer.”

Ms Hall is grateful to everyone who has supported her efforts so far and has raised over £500 with donations from friends, family members, colleagues, local councillors and anonymous well-wishers. She added: “I am delighted that everyone has been so generous as I know these are very tough times for everyone. The kindness shown to me, and by extension to the refugees, is really heart-warming and motivates me to give this my very best shot.”

If you would like to support Ruth, her fundraising page can be found at: https://www.rationchallenge.org.uk/ruth-hall