A Stoke-on-Trent takeaway and its proprietor have mobilised the community to raise more than £4,000 for a 20-year-old man who lost his father to a sudden heart attack on 22 July.
Immediate response from a local business
Arfan Mohammed, owner of Sizzlers Fast Food which operates outlets in Abbey Hulton and Kidsgrove, said he received an emotional call from the bereaved young man, who had already lost his mother to cancer in 2014. After hearing the appeal Mohammed invited the son to the Abbey Hulton shop and launched a social media appeal that quickly drew widespread attention.
"You could hear the heartbreak in his voice. A young lad with no parents at such a young age… it just hit me."
Within 24 hours of the video being posted, the fundraising total reached about £3,000, and it later passed £4,000. Mohammed says the clip has been viewed more than 200,000 times, and donations have arrived from across Stoke-on-Trent, the rest of the UK and overseas.
How the funds will be used and ongoing support
Mohammed outlined that the money raised will go towards the practical costs associated with a funeral, including flowers, cars, suits and food. Sizzlers has pledged £1,000 directly towards the funeral and will donate 50p from every order to the fund. The shop also placed a donation box on the premises and is providing food for the service.
- Initial fundraising surge: roughly £3,000 within 24 hours
- Total raised to date: in excess of £4,000
- Business pledge: £1,000 commitment plus 50p per order to the fund
Mohammed said he has temporarily reallocated parts of his business to help manage the response and keep in touch with the 20-year-old while respecting his need for space to grieve.
Local impact and community reaction
The case has highlighted the role small businesses can play in providing immediate, practical support to vulnerable residents. Mohammed described the city's response as bringing "people from all backgrounds" together and said it showed that "Stoke-on-Trent is a beautiful place. The community is like a second family."
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Beneficiary | 20-year-old man from Bentilee |
| Triggering event | Father's sudden death on 22 July |
| Amount raised | More than £4,000 |
| Business contribution | £1,000 pledge; 50p per order; donation box; provision of food |
Community fundraising of this kind concentrates basic financial help where it is needed quickly, covering costs that can otherwise place additional strain on grieving families. Local services and civic groups often advise families to contact charities, funeral directors and council bereavement services for wider support; in this instance a private business and the public combined to meet immediate needs.
The story underlines how social media can amplify a local appeal quickly and how local traders can act as focal points for community solidarity in times of crisis.
