Warm-hearted fundraiser Ibby's cricket auction raises £650 for Age UK in Oldham

Ibby Yousaf proudly shows off a Civic appreciation award he received last year. Image courtesy of Darren Robinson

When the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) presented Oldham fund-raiser Ibrahim Yousaf with a signed bat and photograph autographed by the England team, the warm-hearted 18-year-old decided to auction it off, with the proceeds then going on to Age UK in Oldham.

Ibby, as he is affectionately known, has to deal with a number of severe health conditions himself, but he continues to raise much-needed funds for a multitude of local charities - 19 in total over the past six years.

Initially, Ibby underwent a social media silence to help the Royal Oldham A&E department raise funds for the Relative’s Room.

The ECB heard about Ibby's efforts, and subsequently sent him the cricketing gifts.

Not content with keeping hold of them for himself, Ibby then asked the ECB is he could auction them off, and this led to a whopping £650 being raised for Age UK Oldham - what a hero!

Humble Ibby said: "I can’t thank enough everyone supporting, as our local charities are the real heroes."

Charities Ibby has helped over the past six years include RMCH Charity, Maggie’s Oldham, Dr Kershaw’s, Mahdlo, Oldham Foodbank, Spoons, Ukeff, Oldham Street Angels, Action Oldham Fund, Real Change Oldham, TeamHill, TeamReel, Young Carers Positive Steps, OACT and Point Send.

Not only does he raise funds with his Team Ibby challenges, bake sales, auctions and gifts he gets, but each week he donated his pocket money to local charities and also supports individual fundraisers.

Every Eid Ibby donates all his money to local charities and has forgone his.last five birthdays, asking instead that money for presents and parties go to local charities that he supports.

Ibby has also received many local and national awards.

He is the youngest in Greater Manchester to have been honoured by the late HM the Queen.

In December, 2019, when aged only 13, he was awarded a BEM for services to the community of Oldham.

Check out @sugs75 @TeamIbby on X, formerly Twitter.

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