Oshwal Association makes £1,000 donation to St Luke's Hospice

A charity representing Harrow and Brent's 10,000-strong Oshwal community has raised £15,000 for local good causes in the past year.

In particular, The Oshwal Association of the UK, North West Area donated £1,001 to St Luke's Hospice in Kenton Grange, Kenton, and £3,001 to Edgware Community Hospital in Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware.

The association's members follow a strand of Jainism, an ancient religion whose worshippers believe in causing no harm to any living thing and practising universal compassion.

Spokesman Hitesh Shah said: "Our members entrust the elected committee members to identify and donate to worthy causes.

"This year, amongst others, we chose St Luke's Hospice as a place which was local to our community, and which does sterling work in caring for the terminally ill.

"We heard about Edgware Community Hospital's requirement for equipment for the eye clinic, and felt that we could donate a substanstial sum to enable them to achieve their funding objectives.

"The bulk of the money raised is in the form of donations, typically given during the annual festival of Paryushan, which usually takes place in the late summer or early autumn."