A LLANFYLLIN man will be taking on a unique challenge to raise money and awareness of the plight of refugees around the world, he says.

Kai Larmour-Jones, who works at Castle Fine Arts Bronze foundry in Llanrhaeadr Ym Mochnant, will be living on the same rations as a typical Syrian refugee for a week, with the aim of raising money and awareness as part of Refugee Action Week in June.

“The fundraising initiative is called the Ration Challenge.

“My family and friends have sponsored me to take part in the challenge and the money raised will support refugees in camps, and other vulnerable communities, who desperately need our help,” he says.

“When I first saw the small amount of rations I would be living on, I was shocked to say the least.

“It is truly devastating to think that people live on these rations, day in and day out.

“I’d been feeling really down about the situation experienced by refugees overseas for quite some time and had no idea how I could help.”

As an added challenge, Kai is a vegetarian, so will have to substitute some of the ration items for vegetarian friendly alternatives.

The Ration Challenge is organised by hunger charity Concern Worldwide UK, and is held in World Refugee Week, from Sunday, June 16, to Sunday, June 23.

“The money raised will help to provide food, medicine and education for Syrian refugees; and support the wider work of Concern Worldwide UK to tackle hunger and extreme poverty with the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest places,” said a spokesperson for the charity.

“We’ve designed the Ration Challenge to reflect, as closely as we can, what it’s like to eat rations as a Syrian refugee in Jordan.

“The ration pack will contain exactly the same food that is distributed to refugees. Participants may get a shock – it’s not much for a week!”

The charity says money raised will help support Syrian refugees living in camps in Jordan, having fled eight years of conflict and violence in their own country, providing them with food rations, medicine and education.