Fundraisers lace up running shoes for first park run
Earlier this month, runners of all ages and abilities were out in force in Leeds as they took part in a testing charity challenge in aid of a soon-to-be developed mosque.
Around 100 members of Beeston’s Muslim community donned their running gear on Saturday 2nd May to complete the first ever charity run for the New Abu Huraira Masjid.
Located on the corner of Hardy Street and Lodge Lane, the development is set to open later this year and has so far seen more than £1million pledged to aid its construction.
A further £15,000 was raised through last Sunday’s event and for one of the race’s organisers, Amjid Hussain, it was a ‘fantastic total from a fantastic day’.
“The turnaround time of this event from its initial planning stage to the run day was next to nothing so to raise so much money is a fantastic achievement,” he said.
“We had runners from five-years-old up to runners in their seventies so it really was an event the whole community could get involved in.
“After the run members also got the chance to have a tour around the new site, before a raffle was drawn where one lucky person won an Umrah trip.”
Amongst the many runners on the day were five-year-olds, Mustafa Mahboob and Aiman Karim, who both completed one-and-a-half miles after signing up to take part in the project.
The final construction cost of the New Abu Huraira Masjid is estimated to be around £2.5 million with the next phase of the development seeing the doors and dome fitted prior to Ramadan.
Once completed, the site will provide a community hall on the ground floor and three upper floors for prayer and other amenities, including: ablution and wash facilities, a conference room and a kitchen.
Amjid added: “Every penny we raise through projects such as this run goes directly to the cost of building this Masjid.
“If you could donate any amount to the cause it would be massively appreciated and help so many people in the local community get the Masjid they deserve.”
