Charity blow as thieves strike
Date published: 11 October 2010
Devastated . . . Anjub Ali returned home to find his bike had been stolen from his shed in Chadderton
A FUND-RAISING architect, who planned to cycle the length of Bangladesh for charity, has had his bike stolen a fortnight before he was due to leave.
Anjub Ali (27) was stunned when he returned home from work to find his £450 specialist bike was missing from his shed.
The owner of Mirzali Architecture — which won a One Oldham Business Award this year — Anjub planned to complete the 279-mile ride to raise money for a new health clinic in the northern region of Sylhet. His dream now lies in tatters.
He said: “I’m absolutely devastated. I can’t go on the trip without a bike.
“I’ve been using it to train since January, after saving up to buy the special hybrid road bike.
“Now, in the vital weeks leading up to the challenge, I haven’t been able to train.
“I’m quite shocked and saddened. I’m trying to do something to help others but I’m not being helped by somebody who probably doesn’t realise the consequences of what they have done.”
Anjub, of Holly Grove, Chadderton, has helped to organise the trip where he will join five others from Oldham to make up the team of 13 riders flying out to Bangladesh on October 23. As part of his business, based on Featherstall Road, Anjub has offered his services for free to help design the medical clinic that will provide free healthcare to the poorest villagers.
It is an area close to the heart of the fund-raiser, whose family has ties to villages in the region.
He has now been forced to try and raise money to buy a new bike or find somewhere that will lend him one for the trip.
He added: “The ride has been in the planning for years. It would be awful to let something like this spoil it. I’m looking forward to helping make a difference with this project.”
To get in touch with Anjub, call 07929-052 258.
