A PRIEST starved himself for a week to feel the desperation felt by billions of hungry people around the world.

The Reverend Tim Hewes, 59, from St Helen’s Church in Abingdon, said he lost a stone during his quest to go without food and drink for seven days.

Mr Hewes, of Lashford Lane, Dry Sandford, took on the challenge for the Mali Development Group – a charity which aims to relieve poverty in the west African country – and raised about £2,000 He said: “It was an incredible struggle to combat the hunger and after three days of fasting my energy had gone.

“I did it because I wanted to experience how desperate it feels to be hungry all the time.”

Mr Hewes began fasting following communion on Sunday, August 9.

His usual daily diet consists of cereal for breakfast, soup and a roll for lunch and a vegetarian omelette or stir fry for dinner.

He said the hardest part was on Saturday when he went to make his wife Andrea, a cup of tea.

The father-of-four said: “I got the milk from the fridge, but I didn’t have the energy to make the tea and had to lean over the kitchen table.

“I had to go back to bed. I felt quite emotional about it and it really kicked in what billions of people are dealing with every day.”

Mr Hewes said he wanted to raise money for the cause following a visit to Bamako – the capital of Mali – in January.

He said: “The kids gave me a short-sleeved shirt with their painted hand prints all over it and a red begging tin.

“Just remembering what my little friends were experiencing was enough for me to stick with the challenge.”

He said everyone had been very supportive.

Mr Hewes added: “Andrea was wonderful. Sometimes I had a glass of water with her during meal times but on other occasions she ate in the kitchen and I sat in the lounge. If I was out and she had cooked she would open all the windows to let the smell of food out before I returned.

“One person thought I was being foolish during it because she was concerned it was not wise medically, but I checked with my doctor first.

“It has just been amazing I have really been touched by the whole experience.”

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk