Safwan ‘SuperSaf’ Ahmedmia has his cake and eats it with Islamic Relief UK

Credit: Islamic Relief UK

Tech YouTuber and internet personality Safwan ‘SuperSaf’ Ahmedmia gave several members of Leicester’s Muslim community a pleasant surprise today when he turned up on their doorsteps to deliver a cake for their iftar meal (the evening meal eaten by Muslims during Ramadan).

SuperSaf joined scores of Islamic Relief UK volunteers across Leicester delivering cakes and raising money for Syria.

The Cake Campaign is a nationwide initiative that sees hundreds of Islamic Relief UK volunteers sell and deliver cakes during the month of Ramadan. Nearly all of Islamic Relief’s volunteers – and SuperSaf himself – are fasting from dawn until dusk as part of Ramadan.

SuperSaf said:

“I am proud to support Islamic Relief UK’s Ramadan Cake Campaign. It’s fantastic to work with young people from Leicester who are volunteering to raise money for Syria, where so many people are still living in horrific conditions after eight years of war. The work of these volunteers makes me proud to be from Leicester and proud to be a Muslim.’

Supporters can order the cakes from the Cake Campaign website and the money goes to Islamic Relief’s UK life-saving work in north-west Syria.

The majority of customers are ordinary families who enjoy a chocolate cake as part of their Iftar, but the campaign also reaches people from a range of backgrounds and faiths.

The Cake Campaign was created by a group of Islamic Relief UK volunteers in Yorkshire seven years ago. Aghast at what was happening in Syria, they started selling cakes to raise money in support of Islamic Relief UK’s lifesaving programmes in the country.

Since then, a staggering 125,000 cakes have been delivered, raising more than £1 million pounds for the people of Syria. Cakes are now delivered to more than 1,200 postcodes across the country, including London, Glasgow, Manchester, Cardiff and Birmingham. This year, Islamic Relief UK is hoping the Cake Campaign will raise up to £300,000 for its work in Syria.

SuperSaf’s support fell on the Leicester Pledge Day, in which Islamic Relief drums up support across the city through local radio appeals and engaging local businesses in fundraising.

Huzaifa Lorgat, Community Fundraiser for the Midlands, said:

‘In Leicester we have 60 volunteers and 20 drivers supporting the Cake Campaign. It’s always wonderful to see people giving up their time and putting their needs aside for others. I also see the support of our volunteers as a sign that Islamic Relief’s important work is backed by the community. They believe in us as an organisation and the fantastic work Islamic Relief does across the world. It’s so good to see Leicester support our work: not just the incredible volunteers, but local businesses too who are fundraising for us and letting us pitch stalls outside their establishments.’

Mr Mohammed Arfhan, head of Pakfoods East Midlands which is supporting Islamic Relief UK this Ramadan said:

“Having worked with Islamic Relief UK for the past 15 years, we are proud to join hands with the charity again to support their lifesaving work, especially in the month of Ramadan when the community is most generous. It’s also fantastic to see volunteers and young people dedicate their time to helping others and raising awareness of worthwhile causes. We are confident that our shoppers and the community will generously support the work of Islamic Relief during this month, as they have done in previous years, and make the most of the blessings of this holy month of Ramadan.”

Notes to editor

• Islamic Relief is an international aid and development charity that aims to alleviate the suffering of the world’s poorest people in more than 30 countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities – regardless of race, religion or gender.
• Over the past six years, Islamic Relief UK’s volunteers have delivered over 125,000 cakes in total, engaging more than 6,000 volunteers and raising more than one million pounds for the charity’s work in Syria.
• Ramadan is the most important time of the year for Islamic Relief’s fundraising. The Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) estimates that each year in Britain during Ramadan, Muslims give an estimated £100 million to charities. Islamic Relief UK alone raised £11 million last year. According to the online fundraising platform, JustGiving, during Ramadan 2017, donations to Islamic charities rose by a massive 487% compared to the previous month.