Alexandria, VA – Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA), a nonprofit humanitarian and advocacy organization based in Northern Virginia, has been selected by Fasting 5K to receive some of the proceeds from an upcoming charity run/walk that will help fund an Eid celebration party for children with special needs.
Since 2013, Fasting 5K has been holding the 3.1-mile running/walking events in cities throughout the country during the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan. Since its inception, Fasting 5K has raised over $500,000 for local and international charities.
The D.C.– area event will kick off at 6:30 p.m. at Gravely Point Park in Arlington, Virginia, and it is open to everyone in the community. D.C. is one of 10 locations, and hundreds of participants will embrace the spirit of the month by fasting, fundraising, and building community through this annual event. The other cities include Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Detroit, Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.
“We are excited and deeply appreciative of Fasting 5K’s generous support of our organization,” said Sharif Aly, CEO of IRUSA. “This kind gesture is truly reflective of the spirit of Ramadan and helps make a difference in the world, which has been Islamic Relief USA’s mission from day one.”
“We are excited about partnering with IRUSA and seeing the vision of the celebration event for special needs youth being fulfilled,” said Farhaan Razi, co-founder and president of Fasting 5K. “Our mission this year was to find projects that supported special needs children and their families. When we heard about IRUSA wanting to put together a structured Eid celebration event for the children and their families, we were really excited. Too often carnivals, fairs, or parties are not suited for most special needs children because its not easily accessible and too difficult in finding the right equipment. We are proud that IRUSA is working with qualified special needs therapists and counselors to put on a celebration fit for all children regardless of their abilities. We hope to support IRUSA in seeing their vision through and hope others will join us as well.”
The Eid celebration, which has taken place annually for the past ten years, will take place at the Muslim American Society (MASDC) community center in Alexandria, Virginia. It will be open to kids of all faiths with special needs. Kids will be able to spend a day filled with activities tailored for their needs and abilities, with special needs professionals supporting the event.
The event has been well received by the parents, as it provides a safe space for their kids to play, and the parents get to meet and provide support to one another. Past celebrations have included a petting zoo, finger painting, pony rides, bounce houses, and other activities.
For race registration information, visit https://www.fasting5k.org/washington-dc.html
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
mhassan@irusa.org
(703) 370-7246
(571) 421-7032 (cell)
Freshta Mohammad
mohammad.freshta@gmail.com
(571) 282-7377
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and disease regardless of color, race, gender or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief USA aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish sustainable local development projects, allowing communities to better help themselves. Its programs benefit millions of people each year around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Fasting 5K was founded in 2013. Fasting 5K was created to further general acts of goodness during Ramadan, which is a holy month celebrated by the Islamic faith, where healthy Muslims forgo food and water from sunrise to sunset. Proceeds from this event are annually directed towards youth development and educational programs within the U.S and internationally.