‘Very exciting’: Cumbria mosque to open next month after cyclists raise £79,000
Riders from two Preston cycle clubs have been raising cash for the South Lakes Islamic Centre in Dalton-in-Furness for five years
Cumbria’s first purpose-built mosque hopes to finally open its doors in November to Muslims of all denominations, after a group of 67 cyclists raised more than £79,000 for the project over the weekend.
Members of two Preston cycling clubs, Slow Spokes and Spokes Sisters — who had already raised more than £200,000 to help build the South Lakes Islamic Centre in Dalton-in-Furness over the past five years — were among those who saddled up on Saturday and Sunday for the final fundraising push. Their efforts will enable the completion of the mosque’s interior, as well as paying off some short-term interest-free debts that were accrued during its building.
The mosque will benefit southern Cumbria’s small Muslim community, made up primarily of local NHS staff, who have had to use community halls and conference rooms to host prayers. As it has taken shape, it has attracted the attention of local and national far-right activists, including Ukip leader Nick Tenconi, who have picketed the mosque. A video of Tenconi heckling builders working on the site last year racked up 57,000 views on YouTube.
“It’s very exciting given the support we have seen not just from the Muslim community but from everyone in the local area,” said Aban Hussain, the centre’s chair. “We have had neighbours come up to ask when we will open because they want to pop in to visit.”
He added: “With the protests kicking off, it makes you think whether this community is ready for a mosque. But when you see the support come across, you realise you have more supporters in real life than it seems online.”
He added: “There was no marketing — it’s just community coming together. Most of the donors are local to the north-west and the rest are from elsewhere in the UK.”
The cyclists were divided by gender, with a group of seven women completing the 113km cycle from Preston to the mosque site in Dalton-in-Furness on Saturday, and a group of 60 men making the round trip journey of 226km the next day.
Slow Spokes raised its first £100,000 for the mosque in 2021 by cycling the same route.
“Back then there was no mosque — it was just a field,” said club member Saeed Umar.
“People are used to having a mosque within walking distance and having different mosques to choose from: shia, sunni, etc. Not having a mosque at all in 50 kilometres, it takes you back to the 1960s, to our parents’ generation. Back then, there would only be one mosque for everyone. This mosque will also work like that — it’ll be a unifying mosque. Regardless of your background, you can go there and pray.”
Slow Spokes was founded 10 years ago as a fitness initiative and first began fundraising in 2019. Umar estimates that the club has since raised more than £2m for various charitable causes, including hospitals and the Samaritans.
While the mosque now has the funds to open, the fundraiser continues to cover its running costs.
