An anonymous donation of £20,000 has boosted the month
old Doncaster-based AHS humanitarian charitable foundation that
is committed to the building and equipping of a cottage hospital
in Noon Bagla, in earthquake ravaged Kashmir at an estimated
cost of £250,000.
This
generous gift equates to 266 sq ft of the proposed hospital,
while other donations will under-write a further 30 sq ft. The
donation, from a gentleman in Huddersfield, has brought the
running total to over £35,000 in just a few weeks from
the launch.
Speaking
for the Foundation, Eileen Myles said: “This one-off gift
came out of the blue and has given us all great encouragement.
We’ve also had an ongoing commitment of £150 a month
from a lady in Scotland, which is a tremendous gesture. Of course,
these substantial donations are appreciated, but we’re
also extremely grateful for the smaller donations and we welcome
pledges for as little as £5 a month.
“Ms
Myles continued: “With every penny going towards the project,
just £75 guarantees a square foot of the hospital, while
£9.99 for a copy of the book or £5 for a Noon Bagla
calendar, with brilliant photographs, can also help.”
The
catastrophe in October last year left 100,000 dead and some
4 million homeless. After several visits to the region Doncaster-based
businessman Nadeem Shah launched the foundation in memory of
his late father.
Nadeem
has also written “Earthquake,” a moving account
of his experiences on visits to Kashmir in the immediate aftermath
of the disaster. The book was launched at Doncaster’s
Mansion House to coincide with the official launch of the charity,
named after his father, the late Ahmed Hassan Shah and promising
to “Deliver Hope.”
In
Earthquake, sales of which will boost the charity, Nadeem conveys
the profound suffering that is still the daily reality in Northern
Pakistan. Despite the apparently fatalistic dignity of the Kashmiri
villagers, he uses the poignancy of their own words to show
the depth of their grief and the power of their faith. It is
an inspiring illustration of how such a cataclysm presents every
one of us with the opportunity to make a real difference in
bridging the divides of race religion and geography.
Nadeem
said: “We officially launched the book and the charity
to kick-start the fund-raising. With every penny going directly
to the foundation we hope to quickly raise the £100,000
required to build a cottage hospital and bring real hope to
people who have little to cling to at the moment.”
Ms
Myles concluded: “People can also help in many other ways.
We have a presentation about the scheme, which we’ll be
happy to show to interested groups and we’re currently
seeking to recruit someone with book-keeping experience to join
our team of volunteers.
“If
you can help, please call: 0845 0941 410.”
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