THE largest Muslim youth organisation in Britain, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), is to hold its 'Mercy for Mankind' Charity Challenge on Saturday (August 19) in Fitz Park, Keswick.

Hundreds of members of the organisation as young as five are gathering from across the UK to practice the Islamic teachings of serving humanity by raising funds for British charities in the half marathon. They say they hope to dispel myths surrounding Islam by promoting its true peaceful values.

More than 700 members of AMYA will be taking part in a half marathon run and walk and hope to raise more than £500,000 for UK charities, including Bloodwise, The Royal British Legion, Save the Children, NSPCC, Barnardos, CLIC Sargent, UNICEF, British Red Cross, Cumbria Community Foundation and others.

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This year is the 33rd Charity Challenge, which first began in 1985. Since its inception, AMYA has raised in excess of £2 million for UK charities. The event is generally hosted in a different location each year, with previous locations including the Tower of London, Hyde Park, Battersea Park, Hampshire and the Yorkshire Dales.

Farooq Aftab, event organiser and Deputy Head of AMYA said: "Nowadays people have many misconceptions about Islam. We raise hundreds of thousands of pounds every year for British charities because we practice the true teachings of Islam. This year again, hundreds of us are travelling to the Lake District from up and down the country for the Mercy for Mankind Charity Challenge to raise funds for the most needy in our society without any distinction of faith, colour or creed.”

In 2015 about 300 members of AMYA helped Cumbrian flood victims in the wake of Storm Desmond with tasks such as laying sand bags, clearing away mud and debris form flooded homes and helping to move furniture in flood-threatened homes.