Charity Football Tournament in Luton Raises £14,000 for Two Brothers with DMD
By Alpaslan Düven /London
A charity football tournament organised by the Turkish community in Luton, England, was held with strong participation and a powerful spirit of solidarity. The event, led by the Youth Branch of the Luton Turkish Association, aimed to support two brothers, Alparas and Osman, who are living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
A total of 16 teams took part in the tournament, which also featured a charity bazaar that attracted significant interest from local residents. Throughout the day-long event, the unifying power of sport and community solidarity was clearly on display, and approximately £14,000 was raised to support the brothers.
As part of the programme, a friendly match between association leaders was also organised. The match added special meaning to the event by highlighting messages of unity, friendship, and solidarity rather than competition.
Speaking during the event, organisers emphasised that such initiatives are more than just sporting activities, noting that they play an important role in strengthening community bonds. Participants expressed their appreciation for the support shown and stressed the importance of expanding the campaign to reach wider audiences.
At the end of the tournament, trophies were presented to the winning teams. The first-place trophy was awarded by the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in London, Ambassador Associate Professor Hasan Ulusoy, while the second-place trophy was presented by Murat Şükrü Acar, Term President of the British Turkish Association.
Many association leaders and community representatives also attended the event to show their support.
Organisers stated that the funds raised will contribute to the treatment process of Alparas and Osman, who are battling Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle disease. They also highlighted that the fundraising campaign is ongoing and that continued support is still needed.
The event concluded with the message “Let’s Continue Meeting Through Kindness,” once again demonstrating the strong sense of solidarity within Luton’s Turkish community.
