Young volunteer’s idea makes raising £25,000 for Syria a ‘piece of cake’ – tasty chocolate fudge cake

Young volunteer’s idea makes raising £25,000 for Syria a ‘piece of cake’ – tasty chocolate fudge cake

Sibbat e Noor, a 21-year-old law graduate and Islamic Relief volunteer from Bradford, decided in a moment of inspiration that it would be ‘a piece of cake’ to help victims of the conflict in Syria – and came up with a fundraising idea that is taking the north of England by storm. In just ten days volunteers have taken orders for 2,500 chocolate fudge cakes at £10 each and delivered to eight cities from Newcastle to Liverpool, raising £25,000.

Sibbat’s idea, which has caught on rapidly via social media under the hashtag #Cakes4Syria, is to deliver cakes to people’s doors when the Muslim community is celebrating the holy month of Ramadan. It’s a time when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and give generously to charity as they think of those less fortunate than themselves. #Cakes4Syria offers a good charitable cause for them to support, and a delicious way to break the daily fast with family and friends.

“The idea is that you save a life with a piece of cake,” explains Sibbat, who lives in the Frizinghall area of Bradford. “Each cake cuts into around 14 slices, which is way too much for one person breaking their fast. The idea is that you buy the cake to share, and because the money is going to Syria that adds a wider charitable element to the sharing.”

The cakes are being provided by Bradford wholesaler Seafresh, which is run by Sajad Hussain – another enthusiastic Islamic Relief volunteer. The original volunteer team in Bradford has teamed up with others across the north to deliver to a host of places including Blackburn, Bolton, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield. Each cake costs £10 and the money raised is donated to Islamic Relief’s Syria Appeal.

Tariq Hussain – a Bradford taxi driver and Sibbat’s uncle – is one of the volunteers helping organise the distribution. “We don’t see this just as a Ramadan project,” he says. “We want it to continue, perhaps nationwide, and  go on helping the people of Syria – via delicious cakes!”

Islamic Relief has assisted over 1.1 millon Syrians since the start of the two-year conflict – 800,000 inside Syria and the rest in neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. The charity is providing food, shelter and medical care for victims of the conflict – including support for 30 field hospitals and 60 clinics around the country.

#Cakes4Syria cakes can be ordered by texting 07511-954-144, or calling 01274-952-144. Cakes are delivered each Thursday and Sunday.Phone lines are open 12 noon until 8pm.

For media interviews contact Martin Cottingham ([email protected] / 07702-940982).