Lake District businesses set to benefit from Muslim charity event

The largest Muslim youth organisation in Britain, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), is to hold its 'Mercy for Mankind' charity challenge on August 19 in Fitz Park, Keswick.

Children as young as five will be amongst the 700 Muslims who come from across the UK. The aim of the event is to practice the Islamic teachings of serving humanity by raising funds for charities, at the same time dispelling myths surrounding Islam by promoting its true peaceful values.

The organisation is hoping to raise more than £500k for UK charities, including, The Royal British Legion, Save the Children, the NSPCC, Barnardos, CLIC Sargent (cancer charity for children, young people and their families), UNICEF, the British Red Cross, and the Cumbria Community Foundation.

This years' event will be the 33rd charity challenge, which first began in 1985. Since its inception, AMYA has raised in excess of £2m for charity.

The deputy head of AMYA, Farooq Aftab, said: "Nowadays people have many misconceptions about Islam. We raise hundreds of thousands of pounds every year for British charities because we practice the true teachings of Islam.

"This year again, hundreds of us are travelling to the Lake District from up and down the country for the Mercy for Mankind charity challenge."

Mr Aftab added: "We hope to raise funds for the most needy in our society, without any distinction of faith, colour or creed."

The ‘Mercy4Mankind’ event is named after the Prophet Muhammad, who Muslims believe was sent by God as a ‘Mercy for Mankind’.

AMYA hopes this event will serve a dual purpose of not only helping charitable causes, but also reminding Muslims and non Muslims alike, that Islam and its founder stood firmly for peace and unity within humanity.

AMYA is the UK’s largest Muslim youth organisation and the leading Muslim youth group challenging extremism in the UK.