UCB Muslim Student Association Fast-a-Thon!

You may have noticed in your mailbox today there was a form for the UCB Muslim Student Association's Fast-a-Thon. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 10 and I would like to try to get as many DSPT students (and faculty if they're interested) as possible to participate because I think it would be a good way for us to reach out to UCB.

So if you're interested, fill out the pledge form and put it in my mailbox by 3:30pm on Monday, October 9. Then, on Tuesday, October 10 you will abstain from all food and drink during the daylight hours (5:45am-6:40pm) and, because for Muslims fasting is not just about abstaining from food, to try to practice self restraint and refrain from negative thoughts and speech. Then we can meet as a group outside 2510 Le Conte Ave. around 6:10pm and head over to dinner with the MSA. If you're not going to meet with the group, you should be at the Heller Lounge on the 2nd floor of the MLK Student Union Building by 6:30pm.

If you have any questions, send an email to asdspt@dspt.edu. I hope that you will all be able to participate!

Sincerely,
Elissa McCormack
ASDSPT President.

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Hi Elissa

Thank you so much for your interest. The MSA holds a Fast-a-Thon every year and basically fellow students, faculty and community members fast along with Muslim students. For everyone that fasts, businesses and corporate sponsors donate a certain amount to a charity of choice (usually a local charity like the Children's Hospital). This year, for each person that fasts, local businesses in Berkeley will donate money to Doctors Without Borders.

It is for the dual purpose of raising awareness about Ramadan and to raise money for charity. We have a big community dinner event at sunset when we break our fast and approximately 250-300 people attend each year. The dinner this year will be on Tuesday October 10th at 6:30 pm in Heller Lounge in the Martin Luther King Student Union. I really hope you will be able to make it and bring your fellow students to attend.

Fyi, we get all the fasting people to sign these pledge forms so we know how many people fasted. The forms should be distributed before the day of the event. If possible, it would be best if we could have then signed and collected before the event so we know how many people to expect and what sort of food amount to plan for... especially because people will be fasting and hungry. If you could please keep a count of how many pledge forms are signed that would be awesome... just so we know how much food to cater for. If we could know a total number by Monday by 3:30pm that would be best.

Please don't hesitate to email me if you have any more questions.

Thank you once again.

- Ahmad