Indian takeaway in Fareham donates more than £2,000 to charity

Abu Suyeb Tanzam, who runs Gandhi Indian Takeaway, in Anjou Crescent, Fareham presented two cheques at his annual fundraising evening on Monday after another year of fundraising.

He gave £2,100 to Cancer Research UK and a further £500 to the Mayor of Fareham’s chosen charities – Rowans Hospice, 1350 (Fareham & District) Squadron Air Training Corps and Fareport Talking News.

All proceeds from his takings on Monday will also go to the charities.

Abu has been running the fundraising initiative for 13 years, collecting more than £10,000 over the years.

Abu said: ‘I have been running this business for 32 years and for the past 13 years I have been giving to charity.

‘I wanted to work with local charities as a way of giving something back to the local community. This is my passion.

‘I know how important it is to give to charity. In 1984 one third of the country in Bangladesh was under water. I was a very young man at that time.

‘I went to the medical team who was supporting victims affected by the flood and that was amazing.

‘It changed my life so I am happy to do something now for charity.’

Despite Abu closing his business for six weeks last year during the first lockdown, he continued fundraising.

He said: ‘This year it has been extraordinary fundraising.

‘During the lockdown last year I had to close my business for six weeks but so many of my friends and customers kept asking me to do things.

‘I said I could do a small amount, as long as they made a donation to charity.’

He also raised money by selling unwanted items, which would have ordinarily gone into the bin, helping to bolster the total.

Abu presented cheques on Monday to Mayor of Fareham Pamela Bryant and Mayoress Louise Clubley, who is also her daughter.

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Cllr Byrant said: ‘It is fantastic. Because of all the lockdowns we have not been able to do any fundraising, so the charities have not been able to benefit at a time when they are needed most. This is an absolute star, we are delighted.’

Also collecting their cheque on Monday was Jayne Bowater and Sarah Porter from Cancer Research UK.

Jayne said: ‘Because of the pandemic, it has been a horrendous year for fundraising, so to receive over £2,000 is phenomenal.

‘Hats off to Abu, it is amazing that he’s kept going throughout the pandemic and we are really heartened that he has chosen as his charity.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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