250 young Muslim footballers raising cash

A MUSLIM youth organisation has arranged a 24-hour charity football match for those affected by the Manchester Arena bombing.

A total of 250 young Muslim people will be lacing up their boots to raise money for bereaved families and those injured in the atrocity, in which 22 innocent people lost their lives on May 22, last year.

Kick-off is at 6pm on Saturday evening at the Powerleague Trafford Soccerdome, and the game will run overnight into 6pm on Sunday.

The Mercy4Mankind event, organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association UK (AMYA), will raise funds for the UK Solidarity Fund, which helps people affected by terror attacks in the UK.

Abdul Rauf Lodhi, event organiser, said: “Last year, Manchester was stunned by an horrific attack which took 22 innocent lives and we are holding this event in Manchester in memory of those victims.

“Football has always been a sport that unites communities.

“Our youth members are not only keen footballers, but they are also committed volunteers who strive to serve those in need as they have been taught that this is a religious duty of a Muslim.

“The whole event is organised by volunteers and 100 per cent of all the funds raised will go to the cause.

“We are British, we are Muslims and we stand united against extremism.”

The Mercy4Mankind event will be held on Saturday, March 24, at 6pm at the Powerleague Trafford Sportsdome, on Trafford Way, M17 8DD.

For more information about the event visit www.mercy4mankind. org/events/24h-footballfundraiser.