Thousands donated to Redbridge charities after fundraising walk
A number of Redbridge charities were presented with cheques for more than £1,000 at the Houses of Parliament last week after a multi-faith fundraising walk.
The annual Charity Walk for Peace, organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association, gathered more than £500,000 to be distributed to charities across east London.
More than 300 Muslims from Redbridge joined the walk through the Royal Docklands in Newham on May 29, as did Ilford South MP Mike Gapes and Redbridge mayor Cllr Gurdial Bhamra.
Cllr Bhamra was one of the recipients of a cheque for £1,000 towards his Mayor’s Appeal, as was former Redbridge mayor Cllr Barbara White.
The Redbridge Samaritans were also gifted £3,000.
Mubashir Siddiqi, of Monkswood Gardens, Clayhall, is vice chairman of the walk and was thrilled with its record breaking year.
He said: “Our motto is ‘love for all, hatred for none’ and this was the very essence of the walk, where people from different religions and races came together under one umbrella for a common cause – to help the needy.
“The beauty of the walk is that there are no administrative costs, so the whole amount we raise goes to charity.”
And Mr Siddiqi hopes that the annual walk will continue to grow.
“Next year’s walk will take place on May 14,” he told the Recorder. “And it is always open to everyone, the more the merrier.
“We started out 21 years ago when we managed to raise £1,500 and now we’re making half a million!”
Other beneficiaries of this year’s fundraising were Action for Children, Great Ormond Street Hospital and MacMillan Cancer Support.
