FFWPU UK: Fundraising to Help the Mayor of Croydon's Charity Appeal

At the beginning of 2019, as I retired from the UK BFD I asked myself “What Shall I do?” Whilst visiting homes near our Haslemere Hall Peace Embassy in Thornton Heath, I met the then Deputy Mayor of Croydon, Cllr. Humayun Kabir and his wife Rahena in their home. We were inviting the local people to ‘Sharing Blessings’ events throughout the year. After a while I became one of the Mayor’s Ambassadors and spent lots of the rest of the year fundraising for his 5 chosen charities. Mayor Kabir knows our Hall, and appreciates the work we do, as he put it, “to bring the community together”. This entailed attending meetings, visits to the charities and taking canisters to churches and establishments, and then, because of the pandemic, starting an outdoor Table-tennis Challenge and virtual magic Show with the help of friend and Magician, Simon Rosselli.

Visiting one of the charities, Ashdon Jazz Academy, gathering at the Town Hall at the end of the Mayor’s year, and playing outdoor table-tennis with Mr and Mrs Mayor in South Croydon.

On 22nd September, I gathered up all the canisters and met with Cllr Kabir. Simon brought his contribution from the Magic Show he and a colleague had put on - zoomed out from Haslemere Hall - on 5th July.

Cllr. Kabir was delighted: “It was a great pleasure to accept this cheque and plus coins from canisters totalling £820. I am so grateful for Susan and Simon for raise such amount”. For me, it was a pleasure to get involved in grass-roots service and to know and love many Croydon people.

Susan Crosthwaite