United Luton raises huge sum for Pakistan's flood victims

Fundraising group United Luton is well on its way to generating £250,000 for the victims of Pakistan’s floods.

Its first annual dinner on Saturday evening raised a staggering £120,000 for the victims of the disaster after the community, led by businessman Mohammed Nadeem, rallied around as the full scale of the disaster became clear.

The event, which was attended by 500 people, was headlined by Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq, two of Pakistan’s international cricket stars.

The duo donated cricket memorabilia, while Dragon’s Den star James Caan provided a framed signed photograph of himself and the other ‘Dragons’ on the hit BBC TV show.

A cricket ball donated by Afridi and Razzaq raised £15,000 at the auction.

The Pakistani community within Luton, along with those in Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester, has been praised for its response by the Disasters Emergency Committee.

A series of fundraising events including charity bazaars and bucket collections have, along with donations from businesses and mosques in the area, already raised £80,000.

The Sainsbury’s store in Bury Park arranged a bucket collection over two weeks which raised £15,000 and British Red Cross has also supported the effort.

United Luton was set up in response to the growing human disaster following the displacement of millions of people in the Pakistan floods in recent weeks.

The group will donate £25,000 out of the money to Doctors Worldwide, a medical relief organisation based in the UK which is working in Pakistan to provide support to the disaster.

Mr Nadeem, chairman of Luton and Bury Park Business Corporation, said: “As soon as the floods began and we started to realise howbig this disaster was going to be, we pushed for a joint venturewithin the community.

“Working in collaborationwith Islamic Relief, a recognised non-governmental organisation on the ground in Pakistan, we set up United Luton.

“I have not been surprised by the generosity and goodwill of Lutonians because I knowwhat kind of peoplewe are.

“We have done and are going to try and carry on trying to unite Luton under this banner.

“We have a responsibility to show where these funds have gone and we will be doing so in the future.”