Walkers raise £4,000 to aid flood victims

Photo: Picture: CHRIS SUNDERLAND

FUND-RAISERS . . . the walkers for the Oldham Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal prepare to set off from St Patrick’s RC Church.

WALKERS stepped up Oldham’s efforts to help flood victims, with a sponsored Sunday stroll.

Around 65 people took part in the trek from St Patrick’s RC Church in Oldham Town Centre to Rochdale Town Hall to raise over £4,000 for the Oldham Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal.

Cricket ace Sajid Mahmood was due to start the event but the Lancashire fast bowler arrived late after driving up from London and was left playing catch-up.

The England international has already supported a six-a-side charity cricket tournament at Werneth Cricket club in aid of the appeal.

The appeal has already sent two tonnes of food in 700 shoeboxes to Pakistan to feed approximately 1,000 families.

Tariq Rafiqe, the Oldham Race Equality Partnership manager, said: “The walk went well. Stage two of the appeal, which will be funded by this walk, is looking to raise £50,000 to build a medical centre for women and children.

“It will be an ongoing thing. We are in this for the long haul not the short haul.

“We will be doing events throughout the year to keep it going.”

He added that the floods would continue to impact on people’s lives for the year to come.

The elderly and children are the most vulnerable as there is no basic healthcare available.