Prospective MP Michael Tomlinson is taking the challenge to raise awareness of 1.2 billion living below the poverty line
A man from Dorset will be living on a food and drink budget of just £1 a day for 5 days at the end of April, as part of a global campaign to raise awareness and raise funds to help bring about an end to extreme poverty.
Michael Tomlinson, Prospective MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole who lives in Lytchett Matravers is taking the challenge to experience what it means to ‘live below the poverty line’ as 1.2 billion people currently have just £1 to feed themselves and their families every day. Michael will be raising money for Oxfam and the campaign is also supported by over 30 international development charities.
Michael, pictured shopping for the task ahead, said: “It has been a very thought provoking week. Both Frances, my wife, and I have taken on the challenge, which made the shopping interesting – trying to decide how we could possibly eat properly on £1 a day. We spoke to the manager at ASDA on Canford Heath and found one or two deals, but it has not been easy.”
The Live Below the Line’ challenge is supported by celebrities such as Hugh Jackman and is due to take place all this week, from Monday to Friday. Participants have a budget of just £1 a day to cover both their food and drink for five days and are encouraged to fundraise and spread the word in their communities.
Michael added “Oxfam set me the challenge to live below the poverty line for 5 days. Publicising world poverty and raising some money for Oxfam sounded like a good idea at the time and so here I am!”
The money raised will go towards Oxfam’s lifesaving work lifting people out of poverty, from supporting food banks for struggling families in the UK, to helping people grow rice on swamps in Liberia to feed their families and communities.
You can sponsor Michael Tomlinson at https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/michaeltomlinson