A pharmacist from Rotherham is gearing up to take on the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday to raise funds for a community centre that ‘brings different cultures together’.

Sachin Tammewar is raising money for the Rotherham Hindu Community (RHC), a self-funding community centre set up to allow the Hindu community to celebrate their cultural identity in South Yorkshire.

The RHC frequently hosts events around the same times as Hindu festivals, with events being held for Diwali, Holi, Sankranthi and Dussarah in the past.

Mr Tammewar said: “At the RHC there are people from all walks of life. The RHC brings our community together.

“My kids were born in the UK, and the RHC really brings different cultures together, allowing them to join the celebrations and experience things like Diwali.”

The initial goal on GoFundMe of £700 has already been passed, with £776 already being raised by Mr Tammewar.

The RHC have run some of the events through self-funding, yet Mr Tammewar is determined to provide all the support he can to allow the community centre to continue to fulfill its promise to celebrate diversity and to continue its growth.

He said: “They self-fund so it’s important to support them. It’s a gesture to say that I appreciate them.”

Despite taking part in his first half marathon in 2023, Mr Tammewar confessed that prior to this he never dared to run such long distances, and he has since been encouraging friends to start running themselves.

He said: “When I started I was slightly naïve. I’m well prepared, and I’ve done all the nutrition.

“Before I was doing 10km, and now I’ve got 15-20 people also doing 10km.”

It is expected that there will be around 5,000 runners taking part in the run, which is due to start at 9:30 at Arundel Gate.

Mr Tammewar has a GoFundMe page open for donations.