Anonymous donors add £400 to football fund-raiser

Leicester: On a glorious Sunday afternoon in Leicester, British-based charity Islamic Relief's Gaza Cup Tournament kicked off in association with Goals on Wakerley Road. Twenty-eight teams from a diverse community pulled together in aid of rebuilding Gaza. With families cheering and passionate soccer fans numbering around 400, an awesome atmosphere was created. Various fund-raising activities were initiated by the tournament organizers Abdur-Raheem (Jinx) and his nieces Zora, Rahela and Farhana Islam who all got their friends involved and formed a dedicated team of young volunteers collecting donations from generous local business and arranged bouncing castles, giant sumo wrestling, face painting and stalls including Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

The tournament raised vital funds totalling £2,477.31p towards Islamic Relief's £23.2m target on post-war recovery and reconstruction projects in support of 700,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including a long-term development programme such as Sustainable Livelihoods, Shelter, Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Water and Sanitation, Agriculture and Psycho-social Intervention and Child Protection.

Six-year-old Nadeem Islam at the charity football tournament
City councillors join tournament volunteers
Violunteers enjoying the sun and the fun

For details, contact Salim Lorgat on 0750 008 6624 or visit

www.islamic-relief.org.uk

At the tournament the organisers were approached by two anonymous donors who each pledged £200 in support of a similar tournament in aid of the Lord Mayors Appeal for Special Olympics Leicester.

This proves that when communities pull together for such charitable cause there are no barriers on earth to stop such overwhelming generosities expressed by the people of Leicester and its county.

On behalf of Islamic Relief Leicester we express our extreme gratitude to Abdur-Raheem (Jinx), Zora, Rahela and Farhana Islam, Centre Manager James Keane and all at Goals, all the 28 teams and their managers and families, Tournament winners Inter FC, Councillor Patrick Kitterick, Councillor Dr Shofiqul Choudry, Ismail Adam Patel and all the dedicated volunteers and organisation that assisted with this tournament and hopefully we look forward to presenting the Islamic Relief's Special Olympics Tournament soon.

Report by: Salim Yusuf Lorgat

East Midlands Fundraiser

Islamic Relief