'Overwhelmed' Ibby celebrates hitting his 18th birthday fundraising target

Ibby Yousaf proudly shows off a Civic appreciation award he received last year. Image courtesy of Darren Robinson

Oldham fund-raiser extraordinaire Ibby Yousaf has seen his 18th birthday wish of raising an amazing £1,818 for both Maggie’s and Spoons come true.

Ibby has revealed that he is 'overwhelmed' and can’t thank everyone enough for helping make his charity wishes come true.

Ibby has been fundraising for the community and his hospital charity in Oldham since the age of 12, despite battling with his own health throughout that period.

His wish for his 18th birthday was to receive no presents or to have a party, but could everyone help him raise £1,818 for two Oldham charities by donating £18 instead - for Maggies' at the Royal Oldham Hospital, who support people living with cancer, and Spoon’s, which helps families with babies in neonatal care. 

Ibby has forgone his five previous birthdays and every week for the past five years he has donated his pocket money and Eid money to local charities.

He auctions any gifts he receives as he wants every pound going to local charities.

Over the past five years Ibby has fundraised for 18 local charities, as well as supporting individual fundraisers, and along with his Team Ibby fundraisers has raised tens of thousands of pounds. 

Ibby has received many local and national awards and he dedicates these to the charities and everyone supporting him. 

Now, with 2024 being his sixth year of fundraising, Ibby is still determined to help his town in any way he can.

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