Charity fundraiser Afruz Miah BEM will be taking on Oldham’s Halloween Half Marathon dressed in a jubbah with the colours of the Palestine flag - and has already raised more than £14,000.

The 13.1-mile race takes place this Sunday, and has been dubbed one of the hardest in the country.

Afruz has previously conquered Ben Nevis, climbed North Africa’s tallest mountain, and run 313km from Oldham to London, all in aid of charity.

The keen fundraiser has been awarded a British Empire Medal and was even invited to the coronation of King Charles in recognition of his work.

The fundraiser works with the Global Relief Trust charity, which has a representative on the ground in Gaza amid a gruelling conflict which has left thousands dead and more than a million displaced.

One Oldham woman, Afshan Abubakar, has spoken of her fear as her husband remains trapped in north Gaza.

The current violence began to escalate following a terror attack by Hamas earlier this month, which left more than 1,000 Israelis dead and hundreds taken as hostages.

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Afruz said: “If they keep going on like this, it’s going to be even worse. It’s going to be wiped out completely – what have these children and women done to get this? We do not support Hamas, if you want to get Hamas, go and get them.

“But these innocent people you’re killing like this? It’s not acceptable.”

Afruz hopes running the Half Marathon in the outfit will raise awareness to the cause, as well as donations.

He is worried about the potential for Israel to launch a ground invasion on the region, which he says could have ‘even worse effects’.

Donations can be made on the campaign's Givebrite page.

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Afruz continued: “We’re going through different communities who have heard of it and not engaged, maybe this will reignite it in their minds, and in their hearts.

"If these guys are going to do the toughest marathon in this long Islamic dress, which is going to be difficult, maybe this will actually raise a bit more awareness, and hopefully people will come out a bit more and support the cause.

“The main thing is we want a ceasefire to happen ASAP, we want the lives of women and children.

"We want it to stop and hopefully come to an agreement. Give them the food and everything, they’re running out of everything that’s there now.

“It’s going to get worse. People are going to fall ill, it’s just… the next phase will be even more difficult than this.

"First and foremost, we need the bombardment to stop, and let people have access to daily needs: water, electricity, food. That’s more important at the moment.

"That’s human rights, isn’t it? That’s the basic that we’re entitled to as human beings.”