Members from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association North East (AMEA Yorks & NE) officially launched the 2019 North East Regional Charity Walk for Peace at their Pre-Charity Reception Dinner held at the Al Mahdi Mosque in Bradford on Friday April 12^th to a packed hall of charities and civic dignitaries.

Over 50 guests, including representation from 18 charities attended the launch together with Lord Mayor of Bradford Council Councillor Zafar Ali, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Major Stan Hardy, Leader of Bradford Council Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe and former President of the TUC Mohammad Taj.

AMEA Yorks & NE are working with 36 charities this year as part of the Regional Charity Walk for Peace that places on Saturday July 13^th at Lister Park in Bradford.

A number of guest speakers spoke about their involvement with the Charity Walk for Peace and about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community North East Region and their community support initiatives.

Fundraising through the charity walk is now in its 34^th year and the country wide Charity Receptions focus on the aims, objectives and fundraising efforts of the Charity Walk for Peace and the supported charities.

During the Charity Reception, funds were donated by the Charity Walk for Peace to the following charities:

• Martin House
• Royal Voluntary Service
• The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice
• Leeds Mind
• Ruddis Retreat
• Marie Curie
• DASH (Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield)

During the next few months, donations will also be made to:

• The Mayor of Kirklees Charities (Kirkwood Hospice and RSPCA in Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford)
• Friends of Dewsbury Park Mansion
• St Johns Infants Schools (this cheque was given just prior to the function)
• British Red Cross

Several charity representatives addressed the evening speaking on their involvement with the Charity Walk for Peace, including Martin House, The British Red Cross, Royal Voluntary Service, DASH, Leeds MIND and The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.

Mr. Lutfur Rehman, Regional President for AMEA North East Region, said:

“I thank the many charities that attended the Charity Reception for their friendship and support. Together we look forward to raising a staggering amount of money for the many good causes and look forward to supporting the nominated charities throughout the year. Members from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elders Association have worked so hard to collect hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and its humbling to see so many new charities here today.”

Dr. Ijaz ur Rahman, National President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Elder’s Association, commenting on the North East Region Charity Reception, said:

“I am grateful to the charities who joined the North East Region Charity Reception at the Al Mahdi Mosque in Bradford on Friday. Without their friendship and support we would not be where we are today, raising millions for UK charities. Our spiritual leader, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, has guided us to work with smaller charities even more so. In the last few years we have supported more and more local charities and the significance to that is the smaller charities benefit much more from the donations and the volunteer support. Thus, moving the National Walk across the country helps us to do this.”

This year’s National walk is taking place in association with MK DONS SET on Sunday June 30^th, 2019 and promises to break last year’s fundraising record of £1 million pounds for UK charities.

Charity Walk for Peace has raised more than £5.2 million for charities, supporting over 494 UK registered charities with a staggering £501,000 raised for the 2018 Poppy Appeal.

• Martin House
• The Spen Valley Civic Society
• Royal Volutary Service
• The Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice
• Leeds Mind
• Ruddis Retreat
• Marie Curie
• DASH (Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield)
• Sue Ryder (Manorfields Hospice)
• Bradford Royal Infirmary Trust
• Artworks Creative Communities
• Yorkshire Air Ambulance
• Bradford Central Foodbank
• Shelter
• Airedale Bradford Out on a Limb
• Fair Trade Batley & Spen
• BIASAN (Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Support and Advice Network)