Cyclists help save the lives of 60 Tanzanian children with ride in Saudi Arabia
H&K Cycle Club raised an incredible £128,000 as 30 members of the club took on the gruelling challenge of cycling 350 miles from the holy cities of Makkah to Madinah
Members of a London-based cycling club, who cycled from Makkah to Madinah in February to raise money to provide life-saving surgery for children with congenital heart defects, travelled to Tanzania last week to meet some of the families and children they supported.
H&K Cycle Club raised an incredible £128,000 as 30 members of the club took on the gruelling challenge of cycling 350 miles from the holy cities of Makkah to Madinah – following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad who made the same journey, known as the Hijrah (migration).
Joining forces with the charity Muntada Aid and their Little Hearts project, the funds were used to provide surgeries for 60 children at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Doctors from Turkey, Egypt and Holland worked on this mission.
“We started this institute in 2015 but at that time we didn’t manage to do a lot of procedures on children,” said Dr Peter Richard Kisenge, executive director, Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.
“We were taking patients (children) to India for surgery which costs 20 million Tanzanian shillings (per child) which is equivalent to almost $10,000. Most of our patients couldn't go to India because of their poor socio-economic status.
“Thank God to Muntada Aid who first came to us in 2015 and this is their seventh mission in the country. They have treated 477 children for various heart conditions. These patients probably would die prematurely if they didn’t get these interventions.
“I want to express my gratitude to Muntada Aid and H&K Cycle Club for helping the people of Tanzania, for helping the children. I hope the collaboration continues because the demand is very high. There are a lot of children who need the services we provide at our centre.”
Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa with a population of 61 million, 44 per cent of whom are less than 15 years old, making it one of the youngest populations in the world.
Congenital heart disease is the third leading cause of early death in children living in Tanzania, and access to adequate healthcare is scarce. For every 1,000 residents in Tanzania, there is only 0.02 physicians. In comparison, the United States has 26/1000.
Families came from all over Tanzania.
Muntada Aid organised for a team of surgeons, nurses, anesthetists, doctors and perfusionists to come to the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute.
On average, each day the team performed 14 cardiac catheterisations, a procedure where a catheter (thin, plastic tube) is fed through the veins or artery until it reaches the heart where numerous procedures can be done, such as widen or open up narrow or blocked blood vessels and close holes or blood vessels that shouldn’t be there.
The team performed around four open heart surgeries each day for the more complex cases.
Dr Naiz Majani, consultant pediatric cardiologist at JKCI, gave an insight into the impact the efforts of Muntada Aid and H&K Cycle Club has had at the hospital.
“This week is particularly special because we are helping many more patients compared to other weeks. When we are alone, in a day we'll do one or two surgeries and three to four cath (cardiac catheterisations) procedures a week. This week, we have done 12 surgeries and 48 cath procedures,” said Dr Majani.
The foreign medical team worked in tandem with the JKCI team.
Dr Majani also revealed that not only did the foreign medical team carry out a vast number of procedures, they also provided valuable hands-on training to local clinicians. This is seen as key to the development of the institute as the in-house cardiologists will have the skills to do complex surgeries which they currently rely on foreign doctors.
“The transferring of knowledge is so important because doctors and nurses from Muntada Aid and the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute are working together and during this time there is a lot of exchange of knowledge which keeps our team up-to-date,” said Dr Majani.
She added: “We are really grateful to Muntada Aid for the service that they offering. But, also, our special thanks this year goes to the H&K cycling group for the donation that they contributed in making this mission possible.
“Tanzania is a developing country and most families cannot afford the expensive cardiac services that we are offering. With this mission and this medical team coming here, it ensures that we are able help many children that we wouldn’t have when we are alone.”
Dr Naiz Majani helped screen hundreds of children everyday whilst the foreign medical team were at JKCI.
The medical team was led by Professor Dr Abdullah Erdem, a specialist in the field of Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery, at the Medipol Mega University Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey.
Prof. Dr Erdem ensembled a team of 16 pediatric heart specialists from Turkey, Egypt and Holland for this mission. Every single member of the medical team were there in a voluntary capacity.
They worked more than 12 hours each day for the five days they were at the JKCI, often working through their lunch breaks in order to help as many children as they could.
“We came here for the sake of God, for charity purposes. If you don't help these children, maybe their life span will be very short or they will live in very uncomfortable conditions,” said Prof. Dr Erdem.
“We came here as a team, nobody wants money. However, the devices we use are very expensive and it’s thanks to Muntada Aid and the money raised by H&K cyclists that we can buy these materials.”
Soifur Rahman, one of the members of H&K Cycle Club, took part in the charity ride to raise funds for this mission. He was among the three cyclists that visited the JKCI to meet the families and watch some of the procedures being carried out.
Professor Dr Abdullah Erdem has been on a number of missions on behalf of Muntada Aid.
“It’s been an eye opening experience, an emotional experience, to say the least. To witness first-hand the doctors from the foreign medical team and the local medical team working so hard together to provide these life changing procedures has been an incredible experience,” said Rahman.
“There's been children young as six months who have undergone surgeries that took many hours, whilst others had more simple solutions, but every single operation that went through this past week, they all had high risk elements.
“I couldn't speak to many of the parents because as you can imagine they are all worried about their children but they are very appreciative of the efforts to put this mission together.”
Another one of the cyclists in Tanzania, Dewan Khan, raised a remarkable £10,500 on his own and said he was looking forward to telling his donors how much of an impact their generosity has had.
“This has been a great opportunity to come here and see what happens behind the scenes. You can ask for donations but now I can go and tell people exactly what their money is being used for and the lives they helped save.
Dewan Khan raised £10,500.
“I just want to thank the donors because without them this mission wouldn’t have been possible.”
H&K Cycle Club was founded in 2013. They have done numerous charity rides in the past decade helping projects across the globe.
These include, building 25 large communal solar powered water wells in Niger; 52 brick homes in refugee camps in Syria; building a maternity clinic in a refugee camp in Lebanon; installed solar power systems in two hospitals in Palestine; provided 1,1000 cataract surgeries in Bangladesh; built a school in Ethiopia and a bread factory in Yemen.
This year was the second year the club has done the Hijrah ride. Last year, they also raised over £100,000 which went towards Muntada Aid’s Little Hearts project.
They remain the only cycling club to not only complete this ride but to even attempt it.
Shamsul Abdin, a co-founder of the club, reveals a desire to feel connected to the prophet Muhammad was the catalyst for the Hijrah ride.
“Over 1,444 years ago, prophet Muhammad made the journey to Madinah, fleeing persecution in his birth place in Makkah. This journey was a turning point for Islam, hence Muslims all over the world will know this significant chapter in Islam,” said Abdin.
“We wanted to follow the footsteps of the prophet. Instead of camel, we used our bikes. In 2022, despite all the obstacles and challenges we faced, we managed to complete the world’s first cycle ride from Makkah to Madinah over three days.
“We are not accustomed to the Middle Eastern climate. Cycling through the desert, in 40-plus degrees heat, 18 mph headwind, the stand storm and not to mention the 100 miles of straight road (each day) with nothing but desert as your view can severely impact you mentally.
“However, the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory. The Hijrah ride is definitely a success.”
The 30 cyclists from London completed a once in a lifetime challenge.
The Hijrah ride’s slogan of “a journey like no other” is apt when you consider the emotional and physical strength needed to complete such a ride.
Over three days, the riders not only have to tackle the 350 miles, they have to do it in the searing heat of the Saudi desert as well as unrelenting wind and sandstorm.
The riders kept their sense of humour despite the tough ride.
Sulaimaan Amerat, at only 19, was the youngest rider to take part in this year’s Hijrah ride. His achievement was even more memorable as he did the ride alongside his 52-year-old father, Shamoon.
During the second day of the ride, after completing over 100 miles, most of which was in the face of battering headwind, an exhausted younger Amerat was asked what kept him going, he said: “At the moment, I don’t know what to say, it’s just a flood of different emotions.
“I felt tired but I went to a different zone after thinking of the Little Hearts project and all the children so then my mind shut off and my body took over and I managed to get through the day.”
Father and son duo, Sulaimann (left) and Shamoon Amerat.
Amerat showed courage and maturity beyond his years as support staff noticed how he intentionally fell back from his group so he could offer encouragement to some of the other riders who were struggling to keep up.
“That’s what the Hijrah ride and H&K Cycle Club is all about – it’s a brotherhood,” said Amerat.
Aside from the Hijrah ride, the club do an annual national ride which encompasses a six-week training programme for new riders that culminates with a long distance which this year is London to Bournemouth in July.
They have also been undertaking an audacious attempt to cycle from London to Istanbul, Turkey in a ten-year odyssey. Starting in London in 2013, the group cycles through three cities a year and then goes back the following year to where they left off the previous year and cycles another three cities. The journey will come to an end in August when they cycle from Sofia in Bulgaria to Istanbul.
Despite not being a registered charity – all members are volunteers – H&K Cycle Club has raised well over a million pounds with their bike rides, with single rides often reaching over £100,000 in donations.
Despite being the driving force of the club, Abdin still finds it difficult to believe what they have managed to achieve.
“Ten years ago, nine of us went for a cycle challenge in Europe to raise money for charity. With hardly any training and very little knowledge of road cycling, we pursued into the unknown. We definitely didn’t look the part either. Trainers, long tracksuit bottoms and rucksacks on our back,” said Abedin.
"As expected, it was very challenging, but we got back feeling like we have conquered the world. The strength of brotherhood between us grew stronger. The journey we went through, we wanted others to experience.
H&K Cycle Club members (from left): Shamsul Abdin, Soifur Rahman and Mohamed Hajat.
"The club’s purpose is to promote cycling as way to help fitness and enjoy the company of like minded people. Muslim men from south Asian backgrounds were not into cycling. The club helped break that barrier and has inspired hundreds to take up cycling.
"The age range of club members are from 18 to 56. Strong brotherhood and camaraderie is what everyone experiences when they join the club. The national ride now attracts over 165 riders from various parts of the country."
VEERASWAMY, the UK's oldest Indian restaurant, is locked in a legal battle with the Crown Estate, which is seeking to evict it from its home at Victory House on Regent Street, where it has operated since 1926.
The Crown Estate wants to take back the building to renovate the upper-floor offices, which have remained empty since a flood in late 2023.
According to The Times, the plans include removing the wall that separates the restaurant’s entrance from the office entrance to create a larger reception area. The restaurant’s co-owner, Ranjit Mathrani of MW Eat, has said this would block access to Veeraswamy, effectively shutting it down.
Mathrani told The Times he had proposed several alternatives, such as sharing the entrance or giving up the first floor and retaining only the basement and mezzanine levels, but none had been accepted. “My dealings with the [Crown Estate] have been characterised by an uncompromising refusal to consider any change to their design plan,” he said in a court filing.
Veeraswamy pays around £205,000 in annual rent, and Mathrani has said he is willing to match the rent paid by future office tenants after renovation. Though initially open to relocating, he said the Crown Estate's claim of helping find a new site was “disingenuous”. “They’ve made no real attempt to find alternative sites for us,” he told The Times.
Veeraswamy’s lease expires at the end of June. However, MW Eat can continue to trade until the court hearing, expected in spring or early summer next year. If the court rules in its favour, the restaurant’s protected tenancy could allow a 14-year extension. If not, Mathrani hopes for a two-year lease to allow time for relocation. “If we lost, that would be our fallback, but moving sites will cost us about £5 million and therefore it is not our preferred option,” he said.
A spokesperson for the Crown Estate said: “We need to carry out a comprehensive refurbishment of Victory House to bring the building back into full use. We appreciate how upsetting this is for Veeraswamy and have offered to help find new premises elsewhere on our portfolio, having explored other options to accommodate the restaurant’s needs. We thank Veeraswamy and their customers for their contributions to the West End.”
Nearly a century on Regent Street
Veeraswamy was opened in 1926 by Edward Palmer, an Anglo-Indian and retired British Indian Army officer.
Located at 99-101 Regent Street, the restaurant has served regional Indian cuisine for decades, with dishes from Punjab, Lucknow, Kashmir and Goa.
It has long attracted royalty, political leaders and celebrities. Past diners include Winston Churchill, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin, and King Gustav VI of Sweden.
Ownership and Michelin recognition
In 1997, the restaurant was acquired by Ranjit Mathrani and Namitha Panjabi. They restored its interiors and integrated it into their MW Eat group.
In 2016, Veeraswamy received a Michelin star. Inspectors noted that it continued to serve “classic dishes from across the country” with care and professionalism.
Historical roots
Before opening Veeraswamy, Edward Palmer had started EP Veeraswamy & Co. in 1896 to promote Indian food in Britain.
In 1924, he advised the Indian Government Pavilion restaurant at the British Empire Exhibition, which served around 500 curries a day.
Veeraswamy was not the first Indian restaurant in the UK, but it was among the first high-end ones and has remained at its Regent Street location for 99 years.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
The airline said the aircraft landed safely and was being inspected 'as a matter of abundant precaution'.
AN AIR INDIA Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner flying from Hong Kong to New Delhi returned to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff on Monday due to a suspected technical issue.
This incident comes days after an Air India flight to London, also a Boeing 787-8, crashed in Ahmedabad just after takeoff, killing 241 of the 242 people on board.
Air India said in a statement on Monday that flight AI315 returned to Hong Kong due to "a technical issue", but did not provide further details.
The airline said the aircraft landed safely and was being inspected "as a matter of abundant precaution".
Recordings on the air traffic control website LiveATC.net, reviewed by Reuters, captured a pilot telling air traffic controllers about 15 minutes after takeoff, “for technical reasons, sir, we would like to stay closer to Hong Kong, maybe we will come back and land back into Hong Kong once we sort out the problem.” “We don’t want to continue further,” the pilot added before the plane returned.
The aircraft returned to Hong Kong International Airport after requesting a local standby at around 1 p.m. (0500 GMT) and “landed safely at around 1:15 p.m.”, according to a spokesperson for Airport Authority Hong Kong.
The spokesperson said airport operations were not affected.
Flight tracking website AirNav Radar showed that flight AI315 took off from Hong Kong around 12:20 p.m., climbed to 22,000 feet and then began to descend. The plane was seven years old.
Boeing and Air India did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Hong Kong–New Delhi flight.
Last week’s crash has added to the challenges facing Air India, which has been working to revamp its fleet, and Boeing, which has been trying to regain public trust after a series of safety and production issues.
Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer said earlier on Sunday that he had dropped his initial opposition to a national inquiry in favour of one being led by Louise Casey, a member of the parliament’s upper house. (Photo: Getty Images)
AUTHORITIES have announced a nationwide police operation targeting grooming gangs suspected of sexually exploiting thousands of girls and young women over several decades.
The announcement came hours after prime minister Keir Starmer said a national inquiry would be launched into the scandal, which recently drew attention from Elon Musk.
“The National Crime Agency, the UK’s most senior investigating agency, will carry out a nationwide operation to target predators who have sexually exploited children as part of a gang and put them behind bars,” the Home Office said in a statement.
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said more than 800 grooming gang cases had already been identified by police.
The Home Office said the crackdown aims to deliver “long-awaited justice and prevent more children from being hurt by these vile criminals”.
Starmer said earlier on Sunday that he had dropped his initial opposition to a national inquiry in favour of one being led by Louise Casey, a member of the parliament’s upper house.
The scandal became widely known as official reports revealed long-term sexual exploitation in multiple parts of England.
Men, often of Pakistani origin, were found to have targeted mostly white girls from disadvantaged backgrounds, including some in children’s homes.
The gangs were active in towns and cities including Rotherham and Rochdale in the north, as well as Oxford and Bristol, over nearly four decades.
The issue gained international attention in January after Musk used his X platform to criticise the UK government for not backing a national inquiry.
According to the Home Office, the new police operation will investigate cases that had not previously progressed.
It will also examine how local agencies failed the victims and aim to improve how local police handle such allegations. The Home Office said the operation would help end the “culture of denial” within local services and authorities regarding the scale of the crime.
In the wake of the tragic plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, London came together in an emotional outpouring of grief and unity at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow. Over two solemn days, the revered spiritual haven hosted a series of powerful ceremonies led by His Holiness Rajrajeshwar Guruji, drawing together faith leaders, public figures, and residents from across communities.
On the day of the tragedy, Guruji led a spiritually charged recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa 12 times, joined by a team of spiritual practitioners from India. The prayer created a deep atmosphere of collective mourning and healing.
“Prayer is our greatest strength in the face of such loss,” Guruji said. “We do not grieve as Hindus, Muslims, or Christians — we grieve as one humanity.”
The prayer service was attended by several distinguished figures, including Gareth Thomas MP, Minister for Services, Small Businesses and Exports.
Two days later, on June 14, Siddhashram partnered with the Harrow Interfaith Forum to host a candlelight vigil — a remarkable expression of unity, attended by representatives of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Jain, Jewish, and Zoroastrian communities. Children from the temple led the lighting of candles, setting the tone for an evening of shared sorrow, solidarity, and prayer.
Key dignitaries included:
Simon Ovens DL, Representative of His Majesty King Charles III, who read a message of royal condolence and described the gathering as a reflection of “true British compassion.”
Cllr Anjana Patel, Worshipful Mayor of Harrow, who spoke with visible emotion as a member of the grieving Gujarati community.
Bob Blackman CBE, MP for Harrow East, offered messages of comfort and pledged support for those affected.
Kareema Marikar, former Harrow Mayor, recited a heartfelt Muslim prayer.
Mahavir Foundation’s Nita Sheth and Mukesh Kapashi, who led Jain prayers.
Bobbi Reisel, Jewish representative from Bereavement Care Harrow, who offered messages of solace.
Dorab Mistry, representing the Zoroastrian community, and
Gopal Singh Bhachu, Chair of Harrow Interfaith Forum, who led Sikh prayers with fellow community leaders.
PC Elaine Jackson, Met Police Faith Officer, attended in support of the event’s interfaith spirit.
Attendees travelled from across the UK, including Leicester, to be present. Musicians lifted spirits through devotional melodies, and volunteers ensured all were cared for on a sweltering summer day.
The Siddhashram Shakti Centre, long a sanctuary for spiritual guidance and community healing, once again stood at the heart of London’s collective conscience. As Guruji reflected, “In our unity, we find peace, in prayer, we carry the light of those we lost.”
Keep ReadingShow less
Smoke billows for the second day from the Shahran oil depot, northwest of Tehran, on June 16, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA has moved some of its citizens, including students, to safer locations in Iran following days of deadly Israeli strikes. The Indian embassy in Tehran is monitoring the situation and coordinating with local authorities to help Indian nationals amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
"The Indian embassy in Tehran is continuously monitoring the security situation and engaging Indian students in Iran to ensure their safety," said a statement from the ministry of external affairs. "In some cases, students are being relocated with (the) embassy's facilitation to safer places within Iran."
The ministry said there are around 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran, including more than 2,000 students, according to government data from last year and 2022, respectively.
Iran closed its airspace after the Israeli attacks began on Friday. India, which maintains diplomatic relations with both Iran and Israel, has urged restraint. "Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised," said foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. On Friday, India said it was ready “to extend all possible support” to both sides.
Casualties reported on both sides
Iran's health ministry reported that at least 224 people had been killed in Israeli strikes since Friday, while Israeli authorities confirmed more than a dozen deaths following retaliatory Iranian attacks. Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service said five people had been killed and 92 wounded in the latest Iranian missile barrage.
Iran launches missile strikes on Tel Aviv
Iran launched missile strikes early Monday on Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv and areas near Haifa, in retaliation for Israeli attacks on Iranian military targets over the weekend. Israeli military officials said the strikes targeted missile sites in central Iran. AFP images showed damage to residential areas in Tel Aviv, while explosions were reported in Jerusalem.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had “successfully” struck Israeli targets and warned of “effective, targeted and more devastating operations” if attacks continued.
‘A heavy price’ for targeting civilians, says Netanyahu
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of targeting civilians and warned of consequences. “Iran will pay a very heavy price for the premeditated murder of civilians, women and children,” he said during a visit to a missile-hit residential building in Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv.
Iranian state media said five people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential building in central Tehran on Sunday. Iran’s armed forces spokesperson Colonel Reza Sayyad warned Israel to evacuate the occupied territories, saying they “will certainly no longer be habitable in the future”.
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian called for national unity in response to Israeli attacks. “Stand strong against this genocidal criminal aggression with unity and coherence,” he said while addressing parliament.
Tensions rise as global leaders call for restraint
Former US president Donald Trump said the United States was not involved in the Israeli strikes but warned of consequences if American interests were attacked. “Sometimes they have to fight it out, but we’re going to see what happens,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.
A senior US official told AFP that Trump had discouraged Israel from targeting Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “President Trump was against it and we told the Israelis not to,” the official said.
Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said Tehran would “pay the price” for attacks on Israeli civilians. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claimed Tehran had “solid proof” of US support for the Israeli attacks and said Iran’s response was to “aggression”.
“If the aggression stops, naturally our responses will also stop,” Araghchi said in a meeting with foreign diplomats.
Iran cancelled nuclear talks with the US and called negotiations “meaningless” during active hostilities. The Iranian judiciary announced on Monday that a convicted Mossad agent had been executed. Meanwhile, Israel said it had detained two individuals with alleged links to Iranian intelligence.