Community raises £20,000 for family of tragic Oldham house fire

On Sunday, August 6, a group of 60 people including men, women and children took part in the walk from Oldham to Manchester and have collected £20,000 to help the family.

The fire happened on Saturday, June 24 on Saint Thomas Street North in Werneth.

Sadia Shafiq, 42, tragically died in the fire, which also left here daughter in hospital with serious burns.

Two of three surviving members of Sadia Shafiq’s family were present during the walk. 

Afruz Miah BEM said: “All three ward councillors including Shoaib Akhtar, Fida Hussain and Nyla Ibrahim were also part of the walk which went to the local fire station on Hollins Road as its first pit stop whom the family were grateful for their swift response.

“We then walked a total of 10km all the way to the fire station in Manchester.

“The aim of the campaign is to raise funds in support of the surviving siblings with re-housing, healthcare, educational support and general well being which will be monitored by the charity Global Relief Trust, who are a leading humanitarian charity working in over 10 countries including the UK.”

He added: “We support families and communities abroad when a humanitarian catastrophe strikes but this time we need to respond rapidly and do our bit as the catastrophe happened on our doorstep.

“The support of the community has been phenomenal.

"Thirty local businesses who have sponsored the walkers t-shirts raised £6,000 alone.”

Cllr Shoaib Akhtar, who helped organise the event, said: “The family have lost everything, from personal belongings to whatever you have in a typical home such as furniture. They have also lost their memories as well.”

Cllr Fida Hussain added: “I’m pleased to be here in support of the grieving family.

"Hopefully Sadia’s daughter recovers quickly. It is nice to see so many people coming out in support. Every penny raised will go directly to the family.”