Despite being tired and deprived of her favourite foods, one Colne woman has described a month of “living below the line” as a truly humbling and eye-opening experience.
Throughout May, aspiring psychologist Cheyann Heap (21) has been living off just £1 a day — to get a more personal understanding of poverty and to raise money for the Global Poverty Project.
The former Colne Park High School student, who has lost approximately one stone as a result of the task, spent her days living off one slice of toast for breakfast, homemade pea soup for her lunch and either rice, cous cous,or pasta for her tea.
She was particularly challenged when faced with Ben & Jerry’s at the cinema, when programmes such as Come Dine With Me and Jamie’s 15-Minute Meals came on the television, and when she was watching her friends eat pizza on a trip out.
Cheyann, of Derby Street, said: “I have done quite a lot of charity challenges, and this is the hardest I have done.
“It was most difficult around the half-way point, when the novelty and excitement had worn off.
“You would be amazed at how much we are always talking about, and thinking about, food — you don’t realise how social it is.
“I am definitely going to be staying involved with Live Below The Line, and I would do it again because of the amount of messages I have received by people who have been touched and inspired by what’s going on.
“I will be glad if I never have to see pea soup again though!”
For her next venture, Cheyann will be hosting “dynamic, informative and powerful” presentations throughout the community, as part of her role as a Global Poverty ambassador.
For more on Cheyann visit www.livebelowtheline.com/me/cheyann, and cheybelowtheline.wordpress.com