£16,000 raised at charity dinner for the Mayor’s charities

£16,000 raised at charity dinner for the Mayor’s charities

A staggering £16,000 was raised for the Mayor’s charities at a charity dinner organised by The Al-Mahmood Foundation (AMF).

In association with the Council of Mosques, the group came together with distinguished guests for the dinner at the Town Hall on 12 May.

Mayor and Mayoress at the time, Councillors Surinder and Cecile Biant, were the top guests of the night, which was one of their last major fundraisers before they stepped down on 18 May.

Pakistani International cricketer Abdul Razzaq also appeared as a special guest and help to raise funds for the charities.

Councillor Biant said: “I wish to thank the Al-Mahmood Foundation & Rochdale Council of Mosques (RCM), and in particular, their chairman, Tahir Mahmood, for organising this dinner to raise funds for my Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

"My wife and I have finished our term of office now and this event was a fitting conclusion, raising an incredible £16,000 on the night.

“I know that the Muslim community in Rochdale raise huge amounts for charities, and do a lot of work in the wider community, for example helping flood victims over the Christmas period, but I had not anticipated this amount.

"My charities for the last year have been Springhill Hospice, Petrus (for the homeless and preventing homelessness), Shopmobility, Pakeeza Women’s Group, and the Rochdale Deaf Children’s Society, and this £16,000 will go a long way to supporting these charities.”

Chairman of the RCM, Tahir Mahmood said: “I am extremely grateful to all the kind people that came along and helped us raise so much money for great local causes. This is one example of the good work we do for all our communities in the Borough of Rochdale.

“Can I thank all my colleagues and volunteers of the Al-Mahmood Foundation (AMF) and Rochdale Council of Mosques for putting the charity dinner together, and of course I am extremely grateful to all our sponsors, without whom this event wouldn’t have been possible.”

Chief Officer for the Rochdale Council of Mosques, Dobir Miah added: “The charity dinner is testament to the Muslim community raising vital funds for local charities that benefit all in our borough. We strongly believe that charity begins at home and hence why we have been raising funds for local causes over the last few years.”

The £16,000 will be added to the Mayor’s charity appeal and will go to the following local causes:

• Springhill Hospice
• Petrus (for the homeless and preventing homelessness)
• Shopmobility
• Pakeeza Women’s Group
• Rochdale Deaf Children’s Society