Muslims help Cumbria flood victims

Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA) took part in Ride4Peace Cumbria, a two-day charity trip around the county.

The event has so far raised £5,000 for the Cumbria Community Foundation to support rebuilding after Storm Desmond, with donations still being made and counted.

Mirza Waqas Ahmad, National AMYA President said: “This event is the perfect way to not only highlight the peaceful message of Islam, but also go one step further and be proactive in helping charities serve the most vulnerable in society.

“At a time when there are concerns about Muslim youth being radicalised, the AMYA is calling young Muslims to a serve all of humanity regardless of people's beliefs or backgrounds. The Ride for Peace and hike is a perfect way to inculcate in our youth values of selflessness and loyalty to the country in which we reside, not just in belief but also in a practical way.”

The event route covered a number of the areas that were affected by the floods, with the participants setting off from Sandylands Methodist Church in Kendal to Keswick and from Keswick to Appleby the following day.

Jonny Gios, community worker for the Sandylands Methodist church in Kendal, said: “This was a kind act to help our community by raising funds for Cumbria Community Foundation.

“We need to remember that there are people not back in their homes yet after the floods. There are also people who are back in their homes, children and adults, who are afraid to sleep when it rains because they are afraid it will flood again this winter. We need to help these people.”

Ride4Peace was not the first time the AMYA has helped Cumbria’s flood victims. 350 members attended Kendal and other parts of northern England last December to help during the floods.

Mr Gios said: “The AMYA told us that if the floods happen again, they will come back to help. How many people can say they are going to do that?"