Independent reports that a youth organisation known as Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (AMYA) is planning on raising money for charities. These include the Royal British Legion, Save the Children, NSPCC, Unicef and the British Red Cross.

This money, half a million pounds, will be raised during the Mercy for Mankind charity challenge which is a half marathon or sponsored walk.

Apart from raising the money, Farooq Aftab, the event organiser and the deputy head of AMYA hopes that will help to change the narrative.

According to him, the timing of the event, a week after the tragic violence in Charlottesville, Virginia that led to the killing of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, should help the tensions.

He said, “We have to combat narratives of hate and divisions and we have to condemn them, that is vital. We have to ask ourselves as a society what we want to achieve.

“This year again, hundreds of us are travelling to the Lake District from up and down the country to raise funds for the neediest in our society without any distinction of faith, colour or creed.”

He added that he hopes this will help fight Islamophobia and prove that Islam is a peaceful religion.

“We recognise Islam as a religion of peace and integration which promotes unity and this is what this event will show. We want to make sure that we bring people together and that we show unity and humanity,” he said.

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The motto for this event is one of Prophet Muhammad’s messages that says, “every act of goodness is charity.”

This is not the first time that AMYA has had this charity challenge. In fact, this year marks the 33rd edition of the event.

It started 1985 and has raised £2M, so far.