Diners serve up £70,000 for charities (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Diners serve up £70,000 for charities
8:06pm Monday 19th October 2009 in News By Claire Lomax
At the dinner are (from left) Aagrah managing director Mohammed Aslam, chairman Mohammed Sabir MBE and vice-chairman Zafar Iqbal
An annual charity business dinner raised a staggering £70,000, despite the tough economic climate.
Two charities – the British Heart Foundation’s Beating Hearts in Bradford Appeal and The Pakistani Prime Minister’s Sawat Appeal Fund – will benefit from the generosity of the 300 representatives of high-profile businesses who attended the Aagrah’s 27th annual dinner at The Midpoint Suite, Thornbury, Bradford.
Guests were welcomed by Mohammed Aslam, managing director of the Aagrah Restaurant Group, for reception drinks in a marquee, before moving on to the Midpoint Suite for the main function.
Mr Aslam said: “We are grateful to all our sponsors and supporters who have been so generous in making this event successful.”
Aagrah had raised close to £900,000 to date, which had been used to make a real difference to many people’s lives, he said.
The charity dinner started 27 years ago in memory of Sajid Sabir, son of Aagrah Group chairman Mohammed Sabir, whose loss is still felt.
Aagrah’s charitable trust, the Jannat Welfare International Trust, was set up to co-ordinate all fundraising activities to provide much-needed funds for local and international charities.
The Beating Hearts in Bradford appeal – supported by the Telegraph & Argus – aims to raise £105,000 to buy a 3D echocardiograph machine for Bradford Royal Infirmary.
It will enable specialised heart scans on patients and is particularly needed in Bradford because there is such a high prevalence of heart disease in the district.
It is the second year running the cardiac ward at BRI and the BHF has benefited from the dinner as Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Sabir have both been treated on ward 22 at BRI following heart attacks.
l People in Bradford who want to give to the appeal can now donate by texting BHF to 70555.
The text message that donors send will cost the standard network rate. They will receive one message back billed at a total of £5, of which the Beating Hearts in Bradford Appeal will receive an average of £3.99 (this may vary between mobile networks).
The service is now live and will be available until November 1.
e-mail: claire.lomax @telegraphandargus.co.uk
