MANNINGHAM humanitarian and prolific fundraiser Nazim Ali says his biggest wish for 2021 is that he can make a trip to Malawi to see the completed homes he has been fundraising for.

Nazim has single-handedly raised more than £300,000 for good causes over the past 23 years. Often that fundraising has been accomplished through 10k runs during Ramadan where he has received huge support from his family, friends and members of the Bradford community. He hasn’t let the Covid pandemic stop him either and has raised more than £100,000 since it began. Much of the cash goes on food parcels in Third World countries.

“Sitting idle is just not in my DNA,” he said.

In May 2020 he still did his Ramadan 10k run, his seventh annual event. These runs have raised almost £140,000.

Over £40,000 of this was for a project he has embraced in Malawi where he is transforming mud and straw huts into substantial homes for families.

“Normally I would have flown out and visited on at least two occasions in 2020 but because of Covid I have yet to see the 50th house the fundraising has paid for.

“The money was raised for Green Crescent Aid UK and there will be a total of 116 houses built with the funding,” he said.

Nazim continues to help around Bradford with other charity and humanitarian work. He fundraises and takes gifts, sponsored by Bradford-based Saveco Cash & Carry, to children’s wards at Bradford Royal Infirmary and at Airedale Hospital during Eid and Christmas celebrations. He has made five such trips this year to Airedale and 24 in total and says he has empathy with the children as he suffered TB as a child. In addition he volunteers each Thursday evening at the Muslim Women’s Council Curry Circle food provision at Manningham Library.

He explained: “Because of the pandemic we have adjusted from a eat-in service to a takeout service providing warm two-course meals. Recently we gave out our 3,000th meal during the pandemic and celebrated on Christmas Eve our 7th anniversary.”

Nazim was the first in his family to go to university (BSc (Hons) history and politics at the University of Bradford and completed his Masters in management from the University of York as well as Level 4 and 6 Careers Guidance qualifications.

For the last 13 years he has worked as a full time careers adviser in three inner-city secondary schools.

He had been invited to attend the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in 2020 but it was cancelled. He hopes the opportunity will present itself again.