Pakistani floods inspired four-year-old boy to take on charity cycling challenge

Four-year-old Jalal-uddin Mahmood with his brother Saif-uddin Mahmood (Photo: Burton Mail)

A four-year-old boy has raised £500 when he cycled from Littleover to Burton after being inspired to raise money for the Pakistan flood relief.

Jalal-uddin Mahmood of Derby Road, Burton, decided to take on the challenge after seeing the devastating effects of flooding in Pakistan on TV.

He told his parents he wanted to help the children there who now have so little compared to him.

A keen cyclist, Jalal-uddin heads out on rides most days to Shobnall Leisure Complex from his home in Derby Road, with his father, Zahid Mahmood.

Mr Mahmood said he is proud of his son for wanting to help.

He said: “He saw the Pakistani floods on TV and said that he wanted to help by raising money for the children there.

“He enjoys riding his bike and has been riding it for about two years now so thought a sponsored bike ride was the best way to raise money.

Sign up for regular updates straight to your inbox

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!

“We’re really proud of him, he’s chosen to do this, it was all his own idea – he hasn’t been forced into it or anything like that. He’s very kind-hearted and we’ll be supporting him with this challenge.”

Aside from cycling, Jalal-uddin enjoys an active lifestyle and is a keen horse rider, swimmer and takes part in Taekwondo, football and kickboxing as well as attending preschool.

Mr Mahmood added: “He’s really active, he’s a very good horse rider and swimmer and we cycle five or six miles most days.

“Littleover to where we live in Burton is around about nine miles, which is a lot for a four-year-old.”

Jalal-uddin completed the bike ride on the day of Eid ul-Adha which fell on Saturday 5 October.

The £500 which was raised through sponsorship will be given to Islamic Help to provide clean water, food and medicine to the victims of the Pakistani floods.

Add your comments below

Previous articleAn open letter calling for a one-year truce between the West and Al Qaeda
Next articleTurkey’s quagmire since the Arab Spring