Warwick takeaway owner appealing for community to support £10,000 fundraising bid in memory of baby son

A takeaway owner in Warwick is appealing to the community for help support his £10,000 fundraising bid in memory of his baby son.

Baabzi Miah, who lives in Birmingham, has had Baabzi Indian Takeaway in Coten End for three years.

Over the last few weeks Baabzi and his team at the takeaway have been working to provide hundreds of meals for staff at Warwick Hospital and the homeless and vulnerable supported by Helping Hands in Leamington.

As well as this Baabzi launched a fundraising drive in a bid to raise £10,000 for the NHS Covid-19 Appeal.

He said that all his efforts are in memory of his baby son Adam Hussain.

Adam suffered from pulmonary hypertension and he contracted the flu and complications with that which ultimately led to his death. Adam died in 2017 at just 11 months old.

The takeaway owner, who also has six other children, four boys and two girls, said that he and his family would never forget the care they received during the 'worst time time in their lives'.

He said: "Me and my family were cared for and looked after unbelievably while our baby son fought for his life at the Birmingham Children's hospital.

"Its an experience we will never ever forget.

"Since that time I've been trying to find a way to heal - I think these efforts to help, to care are going a long way towards healing.

"The experience we had with the NHS came at probably the worst time possible in our lives, and they were amazing. I can't explain it.

"We are just so so grateful to them. It can never be repaid, the support and love we were shown."

Baabzi set up a fundraising page three weeks ago and has so far raised more than £1,600 but he is hoping the community can help him to get to his target.

He has been collecting donations and some of the money the takeaway gets from orders also goes into the fundraising page.

"Our whole effort, providing meals, assisting the vulnerable and raising money was to do our bit, to get involved and support.

"Nothing is too small when it comes to giving and serving, and at times like these, we all matter. There’s a time to give and a time to take, and this is where those who can, should give back.

"This has been a very personal journey for me and my family and it's helped us heal."

Baabzi is also arranging a charity night at the takeaway on June 1, where they will be open longer and 50 per cent of all money taken that day will be donated to the appeal.

As well as raising money and donating meals, Baabzi has also donated PPE to staff at Warwick Hospital.

Last week Baabzi donated 2,000 surgical masks to staff.

He said: "I'm honoured to be helping as best I can in memory of our son Adam.

"The NHS have played a major role in our lives and to be able to be of assistance like this is healing for us all.

"These are challenging times and caring and supporting one another especially front line staff is the only way we can get through this.

"Helping our local community is so important to me and I would like to thank Warwick Hospital for all that it is doing."

Baabzi also wanted to issue a message to his customers.

He said: "We are doing what we can to serve with what we have. We remained open during the lockdown from the start, we assumed much risk to try and serve.

"This entailed no price increases for our valued customers.

"We absorbed the increased costs set by suppliers in an effort to ease the pressure we know a lot of people are under.

"We appreciate our little role in our community and want to do what we can. And where we have failed to deliver, or let any of our community down, we would like to sincerely apologise."

To donate to Baabzi's fundraising page go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/care-packs-for-nhs or by going to: https://www.baabziindiantakeaway.co.uk/donatenow