Warwick business owner determined to raise £10,000 for cause close to his heart

A business owner in Warwick is aiming to raise £10,000 for a cause that is close to his heart.

Baabzi Miah, who runs Baabzi Takeaway in Coten End, has pledged to walk and cycle a distance of 363 kilometres in aid of Mencap after already raising more than £10,000 for the NHS throughout the pandemic.

Starting on March 21, World Down Syndrome Day, Baabzi aims to walk the equivalent distance in kilometres as the number of days in his young son Adam’s life.

Adam, who was born with Down syndrome and pulmonary hypertension, died in 2017 at just 11 months old after suffering complications due to flu.

The takeaway owner from Birmingham, who also has six other children, said that he and his family would never forget the care they received during the 'worst time in their lives'.

“Although his time was short it is in Adam’s memory that I am driven to help raise money for fantastic organisations that helped my son in every way possible during those 363 days,” he said.

Down syndrome, also called Down's syndrome, is a genetic condition that usually causes some level of learning disability.

Mencap are passionate about supporting people with a learning disability and making a difference, which is why the charity is so close to Baabzi and his family.

Baabzi said: "Mencap does some truly inspiring work within this are and I truly back their own ethos that everybody is an individual and they treat everyone they work with as individuals.

"It's work like this and their expertise in their areas of work that makes Mencap close to my heart.

"They are helping those with conditions just like my late son's.

"They are close to my heart and that's why I'm wanting to help raise funds to help them to continue to provide excellent programs, services and support within this area."

This challenge marks the latest fundraiser since the launch of Baabzi’s Covid-19 NHS Appeal during the first lockdown last year and is in aid of the hospitals that cared for Adam – Heartlands and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

He has now raised more than £10,000 through events including a charity night, a sponsored cycling challenge and a skydive .

Throughout the first lockdown he and his team also donated food parcels to Warwick and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals frontline workers as well as the Helping Hands homelessness charity in Leamington.

They also donated 2,000 surgical masks to staff at Warwick Hospital.

He said: “Our incredibly personal and life-changing experience heavily impacted our lives. Losing a child left a massive vacuum and the only way that I have been able to find much needed comfort and peace has been this need to serve, to give back in some way.

"This has been a very personal journey for me and my family and it's helped us heal. My family and I were cared for and lovingly supported by these wonderful people at the NHS during a harrowing time in their own lives.

"Nothing short of angelic teams of nurses and doctors tirelessly worked to save our baby boy, who sadly passed away after a brave battle to overcome his health challenges.

“I can never forget that and that's why last year I raised money for the NHS and did whatever I could for them to show that support and respect that I have for them.”

Baabzi is hoping the community will rally behind him once more and says he is determined to continue finding ways to raise the money until the target is reached.

He said: "That first £10,000 I raised for good causes started last year during the first lockdown period.

"I think we exceeded our own expectations in raising the money as quickly as we did mainly because the nation as a whole was really rallying behind our NHS.

"I think the nation was massively supportive of many great causes during that time.

"Now almost a year on I've read many articles about donations received by charitable organizations dropping and I can definitely understand why this may be.

"We are currently going through an unknown nervous chapter of this pandemic many people are worried about their own jobs and security.

"There's a real genuine worry amongst many people about what is around the corner.

"However we as a nation have an incredible history of supporting our charitable organisations and getting behind them.

"I have no doubt what so ever that I will reach the target, it may take longer but I will not stop until the goal is reached."

Laura, the area fundraiser for the charity Mencap said: "I am truly honoured to be supporting Baabzi and his family with their fundraising.

"It’s been such a difficult journey and helping them has been lovely.

"I have been supporting Baabzi for a number of years and he has already raised money for Mencap through activities in his takeaway.

"I am looking forward to supporting him throughout this year to raise an incredible £10,000.

"Mencap is the leading learning disability charity, passionate about changing the world for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability.

"We’re here to improve the lives of people with a learning disability and their families right now and fight alongside them for a better future.”

To donate to Baabzi's fundraising page go to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/baabzi-fundraising-mencap or go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/care-packs-for-nhsTo donate directly to Mencap go to: https://secure.mencap.org.uk/