Charity Curry Night with a Community Star Surprise

October 16, 2021
8:26 pm

Charity Curry Night with a Community Star Surprise

Last week, Sylhet restaurant in Ely held a Charity Curry Night in memory of Spotted in Ely’s founder, Mark Cooney, with the aim of raising funds for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust.

It was an excellent evening, well supported by locals and it became the perfect opportunity to make Zahid Ahmed our most recent Community Star.

Nominated by a follower of Spotted in Ely, his nomination read, “Zahid is such an integral part of our local community with his support of so many local organisations. He’s very hands on and inspires so much positivity” – Cat Cassidy-Day.

One of Spotted in Ely’s Trustees, Austen Dack, presented the award and gave an amazing speech to highlight the ways in which Zahid has supported so many different organisations and given back so much to the Ely Community in general.

Austen said, “For those who don’t know me my name is Austen Dack, I have organised many local events (probably best known for the potato race) and I also look after the PR and marketing for Ely’s professional panto.

Proudly, I have been asked by SiE’s Alison to present a very special award tonight. Mark and Alison wanted to support the everyday stars of our community by starting a Community Stars Award on their spotted platform. We all thought that tonight would be a fitting time to give an award to a man who constantly puts others before himself and has always ran his business with community causes at the very heart of it.

Here is a list of just some of the help he has given…

He helped Ely SOUP when it was a new sociable community crowd funding project. £5 bought you soup and a vote for a local Ely project. This gentleman was quick to hand over his restaurant to support this drive.

Many may have seen the purple sponsored jackets around the city as he shows his support for the Ely Litter Pickers.

Every year he has also dug deep to sponsor the Ely Panto, the cast and ensemble all love to come in and show their support.

He gives away free bottles of water on very hot days outside his restaurant.

Taking food up to the POW hospital during the first lockdown. Helping the NHS staff by giving 20% off. Also taking food to the volunteers who give up their time for the covid vaccination drive.

“From Michaela, Cathedral Medical Centre staff and volunteers would like the say the biggest THANK YOU to this Restaurant and Takeaway for donating the most delicious lunches for everyone! It totally fuelled our afternoon! Such a kind thing to do and it really was appreciated. Sometimes thank you doesn’t seem enough”

Organised a number of fasting feasts on Ely Market, fed over 200 people (in conjunction with other Ely take-away establishments and Ely Muslim association.)

His restaurant came second in the Ely Eel throwing competition. They entered a team into the Ely Potato Race. They won the Best Indian in Cambridgeshire. Raised over £700 for Ely Community First Responders. Raised over £200 for Macmillan Cancer.

Tesco’s – It was the time that Ely thanked the hard work of the supermarkets over a testing few weeks for its workers and THIS restaurant stepped up to do so.

A regular to Tesco, buying for the Foodbank, the Market Street restaurant owner arranged to feed 45 of its staff one evening as some finished their shift, while others were about to start.

Gave away free kids meals as schools were closed and children were going hungry.

The award if you haven’t gathered by now is for Zahid Ahmed. A kind, caring, gentleman who would help anybody with anything, Thanks for tonight Zahid and thanks for giving your all to the community of Ely. Everyone please show your appreciation”.

The charity curry night at Sylhet raised an amazing £600 for Addenbrookes Charitable Trust and our thanks also go to local business Boss Elite CIC who kindly sponsored the Community Star Award.

We’d also like to thank ‘Well Heeled of Ely‘, who engrave all our Community Star Awards.

Alison Cooney said, “Thank you Zahid, for all that you do for the community in Ely, you are an inspiration to us all. Mark would’ve been very proud to see you receive this award in recognition for all the amazing things that you have done, over the years that we have known you, including supporting Spotted in Ely from its very early days as well. A very well deserved recipient, I think you’ll all agree”.