Marching Mustafa launches Ramadan charity challenge

Muhammad Hamza

BARKING & DAGENHAM school boy Mustafa Abidin has launched a Ramadan charity challenge to raise money for local projects. Mustafa will be completing his challenge the month of Ramadan, when Muslims all over the world observe a month of daily fasting. 

For the second year in a row the Manor Junior School pupil is following in the footsteps of a British hero. The nine year old was greatly inspired by the late England Lionheart, Captain Sir Tom Moore, and he will be completing laps of the garden at Darul Ummah Goresbrook to raise funds for charity.

Mustafa also hopes to shine a spotlight on homelessness, rough sleepers and food poverty – real issues which affect whole communities. He has chosen four times marathon runner Emdad Rahman as his coach and pacer for this special challenge.

Darul Ummah Goresbrook – The House of the Community – is a centre which has engaged a diverse local community. It delivers an array of services run by dedicated volunteers, including coffee mornings, litter picking, youth and education programmes, police liaison for safer neighbourhoods, Councillor surgeries, services for women and outreach programmes.

Multi-talented Mustafa is the author of Space Teddy and is a public speaker. He volunteers to help the homeless and describes litter picking as an activity he enjoys a great deal. Last year Mustafa raised £7,000, and he is aiming to beat the £10,000 barrier this Ramadan.

Speaking about his plans, Mustafa said, “I’m really excited about this campaign and I want to ask all my family and friends – and, actually, anybody who sees my page – to help me reach my target and help Darul Ummah Goresbrook carry on with doing fun activities for everyone!”

His father, Zoinul Abidin, added, “Mustafa has lifted many people with his determination to do good, and we as a family and community are very proud of his fabulous exploits.”

At the official launch of the challenge, which took place at Darul Ummah Goresbrook, Mustafa received his first donations from two community leaders.  Shahed Ahmed from the estate agents Manzil and Co. donated £1,000, and Leftley Sports Club Chair Muhammad Ali added another £500 to kickstart the campaign.

●To help support Mustafa’s challenge, go to his fundraising page:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Mustafa-100-Laps

●Read more about it:
Little Litter League break litter pick record
Mustafa launches Space Teddy book

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