TV bake off winner Stephen Chisholm and Lord Mayor of Belfast Máirtín Ó Muilleoir are to live on a budget of just £1 a day for a week in April in support of a campaign to end extreme poverty.
From 28th April-2nd May, they will be joined by people from across Northern Ireland taking part in the Live Below the Line challenge for Concern Worldwide. As a part of the initiative, they will spend just £1 each day on food and drink – experiencing what it is like for more than a billion people around the world who struggle to meet their daily needs – that’s one in every six people.
22-year-old Stephen Chisholm from East Belfast, who won TV3’s Great Irish Bake Off last year, has prepared a low cost, two meal menu for the challenge. But the business and economics student and keen rugby player admitted that it will be tricky to stick to the budget.
“As a student, I already have to keep a close eye on my finances. But I couldn’t even imagine having to cover all my food every day for £1 or less. I love cooking creatively using lots of fresh, healthy ingredients, so it will be a real struggle to keep it within such a tight budget, and not to feel constantly hungry.”
The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir is also backing the Live Below the Line campaign for Concern. He said: “I take food for granted and usually eat on the go because of my busy schedule. It won’t be easy. But by taking up this challenge, I hope to deepen my understanding of what it is like to live in extreme poverty.”
Award winning Belfast café Common Grounds will also be joining in. They will be providing an ethical, fair trade meal deal for £1 for anyone signed up to the campaign for the five days.
Funds raised from the challenge for Concern will go towards its work to tackle hunger with the most vulnerable people in the world’s poorest places – providing high-energy food to severely malnourished children and empowering women to make a better future for their families.
Peter Anderson, the head of Concern in Northern Ireland said: “The challenge will be tough, but you need to remember that it only lasts for five days. It will come to an end soon enough, but for billions of people it will last a lifetime, unless we do something to change that.”
To take part in the Live Below the Line challenge for Concern, sign up at:
www.livebelowtheline.org/uk-concern
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