forfor sale OCTOBER 4TH EDITION 2020 Yorkshire see page 5 TThhee MMaannoojj JJoosshhii BBIIGG SSHHAAVVEE Community champion raises money to help vaccinate children from polio A much-loved key Yorkshire stir, his wife Bhavna says her husband community figure decided to shave off looks 20-years younger! the moustache he’s donned for over The entire adventure of ‘The Manoj 52-years, along with his beard. Joshi’ big shave attracted quite a few 68-year-old Dr Manoj Joshi DL, onlookers in city centre, as well as distinctly recognised by his big hearty viewers via live steaming across social signature ‘tash, took to supporting the media. global ‘End Polio Now’ campaign, and “People were looking on at me, had dyed his facial hair purple ahead whilst I sat there in the rain, probably of the Big Shave on Saturday 24th wondering what this strange man with October. a big purple beard was doing,” he Surrounded by his wife and friends laughs. on the day in City Park, Bradford, Dr Dr Joshi, considered a stalwart Joshi says he was “very nervous”, but figure in the City of Bradford, has his determination to raise both money over the years supported numerous and awareness of the polio vaccine worthwhile causes, as well as rallying campaign spurred him on. for community cohesion and assisting “Having my beard and moustache inter-faith dialogue. shaved off for charity was such a great Born in Uganda, with heritage from feeling. both India and Pakistan, the Joshi “I’ve had so many people support family were established textile bosses me - it’s been simply fantastic! The in East Africa. But in 1972 the family money we raised - over £3,600, will fled in a state of panic under the help to vaccinate 75,000 children command of the new dictatorship, against polio - that’s a wonderful, leaving their legacy and belongings wonderful feeling.” behind. And it seems that shaving off his facial hair has caused quite a bit of a Continued on page 4 Call now to reserve a table fa n o o s h t: 0113 266 2682 m: 07519 090 000 THE INDIAN 41 Street Lane, Leeds, LS8 1AP 2 Local www.asianexpress.co.uk October 2020 - 4th Edition CONTACT US: Tel : 0113 322 9911 08703 608 606 EPIC: Mountain Email : [email protected] Stories: [email protected] [email protected] Advertising enquiries: [email protected] climb challenge Text to mobile : 07772 365 325 Follow us on smashes £50K Asian Express is available as a FREE WEEKLY pick-up from selected supermarkets, retail outlets, community centres, boutiques, restaurants and many other distribution outlets across the Yorkshire region. 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First Floor, St Andrews House, St Andrews Street, Leeds, LS3 1LF “The Magic Wishing Well’s runs weekly homeless feeds in exciting ways, we aim to achieve the extraordinary fundraising efforts in Heckmondwike, and during Covid- principles set out in order to total now cross the £500,000 19 has operated food banks to help support a wide range of people – threshold tied in with their work locals who have been struggling terminally ill children, individuals with other charities.” with feeding their families. with life-limiting illnesses, the A group of 46 people from West Shakeel adds: “The founders and elderly, the homeless and Yorkshire braved the challenge of trustees of The Magic Wishing Well individuals from less privileged conquering Mount Snowden and have been helping other charities backgrounds are the main smashed their fundraising target by for many years, so fundraising isn’t beneficiaries.” bringing in over £50,000 to help something new to us.” Since it’s inception in February some of the most vulnerable in “Our charity is founded upon the last year, The Magic Wishing Well’s society. basic principles of promoting love, extraordinary fundraising work tied The crews from The Magic hope and happiness to people who in with other charities has crossed Wishing Well charity in are most vulnerable in society. the £500,000 threshold. Heckmondwike, set out to climb the “Through various innovative and “Helping better the lives of famous Mount Snowdon, situated in Snowdonia National Park, Wales. At a height of 1085 meters above sea level, it is the most elevated point in the British Isles outside of the Scottish Highlands. All the participants paid for their own climbing equipment and fitting apparel for the climb, as well as contributing to a minimal fee to cover the round trip to Mount Snowden. Shakeel Faraz, one of the founders of The Magic Wishing Well, said: “It was a memorable day being with a colossal group who showed love, care and offer a similar enthusiasm. “The astounding part of the entire occasion for me was how the group paid little heed to age, colour, religion, race and background. In this day and age, it can be uncommon to see an enormous and diverse bunch cooperating for one reason. “I am honoured to have these astonishing people around me.” After the groups’ initial climb, the trustees of the foundation chose to have a BBQ the following day where conversations broke out about doing another climb to raise even more for the charity. The Magic Wishing Well charity Another founder Zulfiqar Nazir (second from the right) with some of the team October 2020 - 4th Edition www.asianexpress.co.uk Local 3 “The Magic Wishing Well’s extraordinary fundraising efforts in total now cross the £500,000 threshold tied in with their work with other charities.” One of the founders - Shakeel Faraz takes a snap during the climb vulnerable arable and destitute Slough, London, joined The Magic held on Sunday, October 18th by a people in West Yorksire has been at Wishing Well on their ascension of local businessman. The event the forefront of our fundraising and the mountain. They came energised featured an auction, which included voluntary work,” adds adds another with a plan to utilised the climb several luxury items including founder Zulfiqar Nazir. both as an opportunity to support a signed Premier League football “Along with what we do here on noble cause as well as a training jerseys, and even a Rolls Royce. A home turf, we’ve also delivered camp for them and their team. raffle was also held to further raise international aid to the Syrian Joining the brothers, was another funds. border and in Bangladesh. professional boxer from Halifax, Shakeel adds: “We would like to Enriching the lives of the most Khalid Ayub, as well as ex-boxer say a huge thank you to all those needy is at the heart of what we Zahid Hanif Kahut and boxing who partook in this challenge and do.” referee Jed Cheema. The boxers making this fundraising a huge More recently, another mountain tested each other in hurrying to the success. trek challenge saw The Magic top. “I’d also like to thank the Wishing Well team set out to scale They were additionally joined by ongoing commitment of all Mount Whernside, and this time Team Azim who offer a significant volunteers and our supporters – joined by a few special athletes. level of expert help and they are the ones who are driving Siblings Adam Azim and Hassan administrations to their fighters. the passion for us to help the who Azim, two professional boxers from Finally, a charity car wash was need it the most.” 4 Local www.asianexpress.co.uk October 2020 - 4th Edition TThhee MMaannoojj JJoosshhii BBIIGG SSHHAAVVEE Community champion raises BEFORE AND AFTER: Bradford money to help community hero Dr Manoj Joshi saves vaccinate children off beard and moustache for charity from polio Having moved and made Bradford Health Organisation Afghanistan and the family home forty years ago Dr Pakistan are the only two countries Joshi, a Gujarati Hindu-Brahmin, where polio is still classified as threw himself into inter-faith endemic. Polio is a contagious viral relations. Himself along with his illness that in its most severe form family would be seen attending causes nerve injury leading to festivals, Eid gatherings, Diwali paralysis, difficulty breathing and functions, Vaisakhi celebrations as sometimes death. well as Christmas and Hanukkah. "I hope actions like mine can make “We are known as the Hindu’s who a difference to children and now help host Iftaars (breaking of the fast) for to eradicate polio in Afghanistan and our Muslim friends during Pakistan", Dr Joshi said. Ramadan,” he says happily. "Shaving off my moustache, which Dr Joshi built a successful career in I have had for 52 years, was a pharmacy, and after retirement personal sacrifice but which will save continues his work to improve the a lot of lives and take burdens off lives of deprived and underprivileged families. children in the district. He is currently "Inside I feel very proud and the chairman of governors at satisfied, but from the outside, it looks Bradford Academy, which last year very strange to me, because I have won the prestigious National Times never experienced looking in the Educational Supplement (TES) mirror and not seeing my moustache! Award for Community and "I feel strange externally, I keep Collaboration.