The fundraising group running during Ramadan

The Road Raptors are running an average of two to 15 miles per day without food or water

A group of Muslim men are running hundreds of miles while fasting during the month of Ramadan to raise money for charity.

The Road Raptors, based in Birmingham, consist of 12 members who run an average of two to 15 miles everyday on empty stomachs.

The club, which formed in 2017, have so far fundraised almost £6,000 for charity Islamic Relief's Gaza appeal.

Bilal Dalvi said they wanted to encourage their communities to exercise and stay active after they noticed more people seemed to be suffering from diabetes or heart disease.

The running club will be taking part in the Birmingham Half Marathon in May

The month of Ramadan where Muslims refrain from food and drink in daylight, began on 11 March and is expected to end on 9 April.

Mr Dalvi said a "typical day" while fasting involved a morning running session after the pre-dawn meal, known as suhoor, and an evening session just before the fast opens at sunset.

Mr Dalvi said the group wanted to use their "privilege" to "uplift" others

The morning sessions, about 10-15 miles, were better because there was food and water in their stomachs he said, with evening runs shorter at about five to eight miles.

“Those are a little bit of a slog, because your food and water has basically finished,” he said,

“But you keep yourself going with prayers and the thought that it’s just an hour away before you can eat.”

After Ramadan ends, the group will be taking part in the Manchester and London Marathons in April and the Birmingham Half Marathon on 5 May.

Mr Dalvi described it as a privilege to run in their spare time and said despite running while fasting, raising money for the cause is what kept them going.

Charities have been raising funds for people in Gaza after reports of people being displaced and going without food.