Each year the B2B has a major charity partner which receives the funds raised in the time leading up to the race. As a participant you are not obliged to raise funds although it is nice, gives you a sense of satisfaction and community involvement and makes other people smile. This year's appreciative recipients of the B2B's donations was Legacy. Legacy is dedicated to supporting the families of war veterans, assisting 100,000 widows and 1,900 children. Legacy aims to do whatever it can to ensure families thrive in spite of loss and sacrifice.
The B2B is a 5 or 10km event and you can choose to either walk or run... or shuffle or stagger as an individual or as a team. Guaranteed there will be one team called 'The Dream Team' and at least one group of guys in irradescent green sweat bands and pink tutus and someone dressed as a gorilla. It's B2B tradition. It's a great family and fun day with the finish line at the Royal Exhibition Grounds with post-race food, stalls, entertainment, oranges and fruit and if you like you can pre-order and purchase a breakfast of champions. If you stick around long enough you can even win a car in the lucky draw.
This year 42,571 participants entered. That's a total of around 85,142 smelly socks and sneakers over the finish line! I've participated in the B2B for the last 3 years and I'm a little disappointed I didn't get a chance to improve on last year's 10km run result and continue the praxis of a free t-shirt. Sigh. On the plus side though the entry fee I paid contributed to the funds raised for Legacy and there will be next year to break the 60 minute mark.
Ramadan, an Islamic tradition occurs for 29-30 days of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. The actual dates change every year depending on the moon's cycle. It is a month of fasting, in which participants refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex during daylight hours. It's for the purpose of teaching patience, spirituality, humility, self-discipline, self-control and to develop an empathy for others less fortunate.
I've done my research about Islam and in its purest form teaches kindness, compassion, love and respect. It promotes a community spirit and inclusivity. Nowhere in the Qur'an does it insist that Muslims must kill and die for what they believe in, no matter what the cost. Nowhere does it say that women must be oppressed. In fact Muslim women are encouraged to receive a university education and have many rights, according to Islamic law, including:
- Women can not be denied the right to an education
- Forced marriage is prohibited
- Women can file legal suits in court and initiate divorce
- Women can enter into contracts without interference or permision from a man
- Spousal abuse is a punishable offense
- Women must receive equal pay for equal work.
- Not wear tight clothes
- Grow a beard if they are able to do so
- Wear a hat called a kufi
- Cover the area from the knees up to the navel when in public at all times
- Wear long pants or a loose gown and a shirt.
As for other misrepresentations of Islamic culture and beliefs, the word Jihad does not mean a holy war, nor does it give permission to anyone to kill innocent people for not believing or following Islamic law. In fact, it is against Islamic law to force another person to convert to Islam. But back to Jihad. Jihad literally means 'to strive or struggle or to work for something with determination'. Studying a degree, doing volunteer work or even training for a triathlon or sport could all come under the heading jihad, according to the real definition!
Some things that Muslims do oppose are:
- The selling of alcohol, pornography and drugs
- Littering and pollution
- Gossip or slander
- Corruption in government
- Pedophilia and spousal abuse
- Cruelty to animals.
I was looking forward to experiencing Ramadan and a deeper feeling of fulfillment and commitment. But I guess, like the B2B there is always next year...
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