Ramadan fasters from around Greater Manchester have contributed to raising more than £75,000 by distributing cakes in aid of Syria.
Islamic Relief’s Cakes4Syria fundraising effort has seen volunteers, all fasting for Ramadan, deliver more than 15,000 cakes across the UK.
More than 2,000 of these have been delivered in and around the Manchester area.
Trainee solicitor Sibbat e Noor, 23, a Relief volunteer from Bradford, launched Cakes4Syria last Ramadan.
Since then the fundraising idea has gone national as UK Muslims are becoming increasingly concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Syria.
#Cakes4Syria Manchester team are ready and loaded to go pic.twitter.com/ELjEKSHYNL
— #Cakes4Syria (@Cakes4Syria) July 20, 2014
Sibbat said of the fundraising for Syria: “It’s just brilliant. I can’t believe it’s gone national. The response we’ve had has been almost overwhelming.
“The atmosphere on the team here in Bradford is excellent, we are really pulling together to do something for the people of Syria.”
Their money-raising efforts come as British imams have called for Muslims to help Syrians peacefully from the UK.
So far the scheme has raised £76,705 in its first week alone, with more funds expected to flow in during the last few days of the appeal.
The delivery operation has expanded from four dedicated mobile volunteers to 160 volunteers in just one year.
Cakes4Syria have delivered to Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale and Bolton, where they delivered 30 cakes to Amir Khan’s family.
#Cakes4Syria delivered 30 cakes to the @AmirKingKhan family today in Bolton #TeamKhan #TeamIR #Alhamdulillah pic.twitter.com/hIM90OKgkk
— #Cakes4Syria (@Cakes4Syria) July 15, 2014
Other famous takers so far include Jon Snow and political journalist and author Mehdi Hasan.
Zia Salik, Islamic Relief’s Community Fundraising and Volunteer Manager, said: “It’s the last few days of Cakes4Syria and we’d urge everyone – Muslims and non-Muslims alike – to order one of these tasty treats and support Syrian’s in desperate need.
“Your order will help Islamic Relief to do life-saving work in Syria.”
Zia added: “This is an idea that came from the grassroots and the response has been just fantastic.
“The team of volunteers have done an amazing job in the last few weeks and their efforts have helped raise thousands for one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.”
#Cakes4Syria teams have left for Manchester, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, York, Hull, Darlington, Bradford & Bolton pic.twitter.com/CXr67euzY9
— #Cakes4Syria (@Cakes4Syria) July 17, 2014
Cakes can be ordered at any time by calling the Cakes4Syria call centre on 01274 952144 or text 07511 724 372 (12 noon -8pm) or spread the word using #Cakes4Syria.
The cakes cost £10 – the same as from other retailers – and £5 is donated to Islamic Relief’s Syria appeal. Deliveries take place on Sundays and Thursdays until the end of Ramadan.
Cakes4Syria’s fundraising does not draw to a close until Thursday, July 24 and the order line to purchase cakes will not close until Friday, July 25 at 5pm.
