Think Muslims don’t like poppies? Maybe you should see these volunteers
These pictures show fundraisers from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), waiting around in miserable weather, selling poppies.
Not only that.In July, 25 AMYA members hiked in the Bavarian Alps to raise money for the Royal British Legion – four months before Remembrance Day.In the end, they raised £5,964.89.Deborah Armantrading, north west London community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, said in July that AMYA has always been a great supporter.‘The association has been crucial in raising funds for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal for several years participating in mass collections all over the UK, providing us with a significant number of volunteer collectors and raising amazing totals,’ she said.
‘The Legion is extremely pleased with the enthusiasm and commitment from all of the volunteers. We enjoy working with AMYA as they are dedicated and passionate about their charity work, and the Poppy Appeal would not be the same without their help.’This isn’t the first time the group has raised money for the Poppy Appeal either – they do it every year.More than 1.3million soldiers from the Indian Army fought in the First World War. Around 400,000 of these soldiers were Muslims.
Mirza Waqas Ahmad, national president of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, told Metro.co.uk: ‘Service to humanity is part of our faith and collecting for the Poppy Appeal is just one of numerous initiatives.‘On Remembrance Sunday we held our flagship charity fundraising event, the mercy4mankind charity challenge and have raised almost £400,000 for UK charities, including the Royal British Legion.‘Our youth are regularly out and about donating blood, planting trees, visiting the sick and elderly, and making a positive contribution to the community and country as a whole.
‘We do this as Islam teaches us service to humanity.’
