by Brandale Mills
Daily Lobo
Students went hungry Thursday to help provide food for the needy.
UNM's third annual Ramadan Fast-A-Thon took place from sunrise at 7:23 a.m. until sunset at 6:17 p.m.
The fast, hosted by UNM's Muslim Student Association, is a program where a person pledges to fast for one day. In turn, sponsors of the program donate $3 on the pledge's behalf to Project Share - a local food shelter for the poor and homeless.
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The fast marked the last day of fasting for Ramadan, which began on Oct. 4. The fast was broken at 6:20 p.m. with pizza and soft drinks in Johnson Gym.
President of the Muslim Student Association, Amjad Musleh, said the fast should help raise awareness about those who are hungry every day.
"You can't know anything about a person until you walk in their shoes," Musleh said.
Musleh said 333 students participated in this year's Fast-A-Thon. Last year there were 132 participants, he said. This year they reached their goal and raised over $1,500, which should be able to feed about 1,650 people, he said.
"Hopefully it will create awareness and more people will know about Project Share," he said.
Musleh said the Ramadan Fast-A-Thon was started by a Muslim student association in Knoxville, Tenn. He said they thought if one person went hungry, others would not have to. The concept spread and other Muslim student associations started to participate.
UNM student John Edwards participated in the fast this year and said he will participate next year.
"It helps," he said. "You're doing something to help other people."
Edwards signed up for the fast in his Arabic class. He said it seemed like a good thing to do.
Faisal Nabulsi, president of the Islamic Center of New Mexico, was a guest speaker at the dinner and said fasting helps build self-determination.
"Fasting helps to purify oneself physically and spiritually," he said.
UNM student Elizabeth Johnson said she decided to fast because a lot of her friends were doing it.
"It's easier to do it in a group," she said.
She said having people around her for support took her mind off not eating. She said the fast should help people gain understanding about how it feels to be hungry.
"People don't understand how painful not eating is," she said. "It's hard to do."
UNM student Michele Edwards did not fast, but she said would consider trying it next year.
"I think it's great," she said.
Sponsors of the fast were Tri-H Convenience Store, Skyway Trading Co., West Mesa Regent Pharmacy, Wholesale Authentic Indian Jewelry, Newsland Bookstore and the Vaughan Company Realtors.
