by SARWAR ALAM
KHAN AND BARNARDO’S MAKE TEN FANS’ DREAMS COME TRUE AT RAMADAN
BOXING star Amir Khan teamed-up with children’s charity Barnardo’s for their Fast For A Day campaign and invited 10 fans, from different faiths and backgrounds, last Saturday (26) to share a meal with him at the time of breaking their fast in the evening.
Khan invited his 1.2 million followers on Instagram to say why they wanted to fast with him and what it would mean to meet him. The winners enjoyed Iftar (the breaking of the fast) with a three-course meal at the award-winning Dishoom restaurant in Kings Cross.
The winners, who were all from different faiths, spent the evening mingling with Khan in their own private reception area of the restaurant and were treated to photographs and autographed items from the former two-time world champion.
Khan said: “Fast For A Day is supporting the important work of Barnardo’s with some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and I’m proud to be able to support their work this Ramadan, a month where giving and charitable causes are especially highlighted.
“I have had a wonderful evening with everyone and it’s great to see that I have many of my non-Muslims fans here who are able to see and have experienced the important reasons why we fast.
“Fasting teaches us to be aware of the less fortunate people around the world. To think about how people are starving and suffering around the world and how we can help them.
“During Ramadan, people give so much charity, such as through Zakat, and it’s important that everyone is aware of the great work that charities, such as Barnardo’s do with the money that is donated.”
Barnardo’s Fast For A Day campaign aims to show the sacrifice and dedication Muslims around show during the month of Ramadan and their commitment to giving charity during the holy month. According to the Charity Commission, British Muslims alone gave £100 million during the month of Ramadan in 2016.
Barnardo’s chief executive Javed Khan said: “Fast For A Day will showcase what the month of Ramadan means for hundreds of thousands of families, households and individuals throughout the UK this month.
“It’s fantastic to see popular British Asians of all faiths come together to support Barnardo’s during Ramadan and our Time For Family campaign.”
Other Asian celebritites taking part in the Fast For A Day campaign include Bhangra singer Juggy D, Bend it like Beckham actor Ameet Chana, R&B singer Arjun, Punjabi singer Tasha Tah, TV presenter Suzi Mann and radio presenter Anushka Arora.
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