We were honoured to be invited to a ceremony at the Mayor’s Parlour in Oldham on 19th May and the Mayor of Oldham Jennifer Harrison was very kind and welcoming .
A big thank you from Tameside Rotary as President Angela Robbins and Tameside Rotarian Lavlu Kader receive £1206.00 which will be put to very good use in the community from the Local Ramadan Appeal awarded at the Oldham Mayor's Parlour.

Tameside Rotarians Lavlu Kader and Mizan Rahman are members of the Local Ramadan Appeal Team set up by Amin Chowdhury who is also the co-ordinator of the group. Lavlu Kader undertook to do a sponsored walk and ran during the period of Ramadan to raise money for good causes, despite being a busy family man and working at a successful Solicitor’s practice. Lavlu ran in Hyde Park and Millennium Park in Hyde which he found rewarding and enjoyable. When the LRA team discussed how they would split the money raised, they decided to give a third to an international cause, a third to their local community and Lavlu suggested a third to his Rotary Club; Tameside Rotary.

The LRA raised an amazing £3617 during Ramadan. Tameside Rotarian Mizan Rahman who is a member of the LRA is the founder and lead fund-raiser for an Eye Hospital in Sylhet which he has been working on for 16 years through his charity ‘Just Help’. The Eye Hospital is also supported by funds from Sylhet Pride Rotary and Tameside Rotary through their global grant scheme. Just Help also received £1206.00.
From Left- Sajjadur Rahman, Mayor Jennifer Harrison, Rotarian and Just Help Foundation Mizan Rahman, Mayor Consort Shaid Mushtaq and Mostofa Ahmed

Mayor Jennifer Harrison also received a cheque herself for her chosen Mayor’s charities.

Interestingly, the Consul General of Turkey in Manchester Seyfi Onur Sayin was hoping to be the first, but reports he did have a predecessor in 1845 during the Ottoman period when Great Britain and Turkey were very close. He said 98% of their population are muslim.

President Angela Robbins said that the event was very uplifting and much talk of togetherness, love, kindness and helping our fellow human beings regardless of faith or colour. She said ‘I have also told Amin that we will let LRA know exactly which causes we will support with the money. Amin was keen for the money to stay local even though the LRA are also very aware of the suffering internationally.’

The LRA have undertaken to raise money for the last few years and plan to raise money now annually. Their advisor Muzahid Khan DL said he hoped LRA would have more women and younger people in the team in future and eloquently spoke of his pride in LRA doing such great work and bringing people together. Tameside Rotary were honoured to receive this donation which hadn’t been expected and we thank Rotarian Lavlu Kader for suggesting us as a recipient.