A kind-hearted shopkeeper in Edinburgh has given a ravenous marathon runner his lunch after he came into the store looking for a quick snack-to-go after clocking up 30km.
Tendai Huchu, 40, was doing last-minute marathon preparation for next weekend's big race but hit a wall at 28k and needed a sugary hit to plough on.
Stopping near Dalry before going to meet a friend, Tendai popped into Aliza's Food on Gorgie Road for a chocolate bar and some crisps - but the newly opened store only stocked fresh meat and cooking ingredients.
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He started chatting to Qamar behind the counter and the pair discovered they had plenty in common before the selfless shopkeeper offered up his home-cooked lunch to the runner before sending him on his way.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live Tendai said: "I moved to Edinburgh in the early 00s and the city has been good to me. When I arrived I studied podiatry at Queen Margaret and graduated the year it became a university.
"Now I am a novelist and am on the third book of my series. It is an amazing place if you have literary aspirations. I live at Calder Park so Gorgie is just somewhere I pass quite often when going into the city centre but I don't spend a lot of time there.
"I started running in 2019, I had been really unfit so I started to look after my body and mind. I enjoyed it and joined some running groups, 5K turned into 10K and 10K turned into a half marathon but then Covid hit.
"I still ran through the pandemic but on my own and did a marathon around Edinburgh completing 26 miles when all the streets were empty."
The avid runner and popular author loved sharing the fitness buzz with others so signed up to a marathon after taking part in a 10k run.
He said: "Last year I did the men's 10K and I loved the energy of it. I met so many amazing people. and being part of everyone coming together with such positive energy so I signed up for the Edinburgh Marathon in October last year.
"Yesterday was my final prep run and I did 30k - I went out running early in the day but I totally fell apart at 28K. I hit a wall and completely collapsed and burnt out.
"I had experienced it before as I have done a lot of long-distance running and tried to carry on for a few kilometres but I was done."
Tendai tried to carry on and popped into a local shop for a quick snack to boost his blood sugar before meeting a friend in a nearby graveyard to work on a podcast.
He explained: "I was meeting my friend Jasper afterwards at a nearby Cemetary and popped into a shop nearby assuming it was a bog standard newsagent.
"There was a butcher counter, shelves filled with spices, ethnic foods and fresh fruit and veg. I went in for crisps, chocolate, and a coke.
"I spoke to the guy at the till and explained I just needed some sugar in my system, he said they did not have anything and told me that the shop had just opened three weeks ago.
"There were no other shops around so the guy offered me some food. He asked if I wanted any food so of course I said yes.
"He grabbed his lunch from the fridge and heated it up, it was chicken with a chapati. He found me somewhere to sit and I was wolfing it down.
"We got chatting and he explained that he was from Pakistan and he knew loads about cricket. Zimbabwe is also huge on cricket so we had this really interesting conversation."
The kind shopkeeper explained that the act did not take a second thought for him and that the Qu'oran advises that if your neighbour is hungry you should feed them.
Tendai said: "It was the most natural thing ever. I was still thinking about it when I got home that night and tweeted just before I went to bed. When I woke up it had blown up.
"It was a small act of kindness that often gets overlooked in this busy world so it must have resonated with a lot of people. I'm so grateful I shared the experience and it reached so many people.
"A lot of locals have said they will pop into his shop now. Edinburgh is full of incredibly kind people who will speak to you and offer kindness - you just need to look."
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The tweet sharing the story of kindness has now reached nearly 10,000 people who expressed how the tale cheered them up.
Shelagh Low exclaimed: "Thank you for sharing this, a lovely story to wake up to. Wishing you all the best in the marathon."
Scott Agnew said: "Lovely story. I'm now going to spend the day wondering what Qamar had for his lunch though."
Alan Dodd proclaimed: "Amazing. People like Qamar is proof that humanity is still out there."
Ali Carberry said: "How lovely. What a kind gesture from Qamar. Well done on your 30k too - very impressive."
While Lynette Murphy added: "This is such a terrific story. So much kindness was shown by the wonderful Qamar. Great story to share."
Shopkeeper Qamar also noticed the tweet and got in touch with Tendai and said: "Thanks my friend its me Qamar its my shop - you are welcome anytime brother."
If you have a good news story to share or have noticed some kindness in the community get in touch at iona.young@reachplc.com or let us know in the comments.
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