Hundreds step out for good causes

From the Telegraph & Argus, first published Monday 7th Jun 2004.

More than 500 walkers stepped out for charity yesterday to raise money for a host of good causes.

The event in Ilkley was organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, one of the oldest Muslim associations in the country. It organises a charity walk every year but not since 1995 has the event been held in the north of England.

However, this year it fell to the Bradford branch to organise the event and its members' efforts raised more than £50,000 for charity.

Beneficiaries include the Telegraph & Argus Save Our Play Appeal, which is raising money for Bradford Toy Library, Martin House Hospice and the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust, as well as national and international charities such as the Save the Children Fund and Humanity First, an international charity which works with communities around the world to improve life for poor and vulnerable people.

The walkers, who came from all over the UK, set off yesterday from Clevedon House School, Ben Rhydding, to walk the 13 miles to Addingham and back.

On Saturday the association handed over money raised to its chosen charities, including a cheque for £4,000 to the T&A's Save Our Play Appeal, at a charity dinner held at Clevedon House School.

The money will help safeguard the future of the library, which is the only one in the district which lends out specialist toys for free to more than 1,000 children with special needs and disabilities.

President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association in Bradford Bary Malik said: "Over a number of years we have continued to raise tens of thousands of pounds in the UK for various good causes including Save the Children fund, Imperial Cancer Research, Lord Mayors' Appeals and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

"One of the features of the walk is that it is administered and organised entirely by volunteers who are not paid a penny. This allows us to donate all the money raised to the designated charities each year."

T&A editor Perry Austin-Clarke said: "We've been constantly overwhelmed by the response from individuals, businesses and other organisations to our campaign to save Bradford Toy Library from closure.

"We're absolutely delighted that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK has chosen to make the charity one of the beneficiaries of its annual charity walk. This is a substantial donation to our appeal and will make a significant difference in our efforts to secure the Toy Library's future."

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