A Bradford school has raised more than £3,000 for children less fortunate than themselves.

Students from the Suffa-Tul-Islam (UK) School, on Sunbridge Road, today presented Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Matron Denise Stewart with a cheque for £3,264 during a visit to the children’s outpatients departmentbased at St Luke’s Hospital.

The money raised will go towards the purchase of new medical equipment for patients attending the children’s departments and wards at St Luke’s and the Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Matron Denise Stewart said: “It is inspiring and humbling to be on the receiving end of such generosity as the boys and girls of the STI school have worked incredibly hard to raise this money.

“Their huge efforts are an admirable reflection of the support being given to the Foundation Trust’s children's services by our local community and especially by the school and its pupils.

”We are planning to put the some of the money towards buying more oximeters (machines which measure the amount of oxygen in a patient’s blood) as coming into the winter months the numbers of admissions through wards, clinics and neonatal services increase.”

The school’s fundraising initiatives were part of their annual celebrations to commemorate the life and message of Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam.

STI Headteacher, Mohammed Naveed, explained: “Prophet Mohammed taught that everyone should make a positive contribution to the society, so every year at the time of his birth, which is during the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awwal, we organise events as part of our festivities so that students can learn different ways to play a positive role within their community.

"I am very pleased with the tremendous display of generosity shown by everyone who sponsored the students at STI School. We hope that the fantastic work being carried out by many Muslim organisations in Bradford is recognised for its ability to break barriers and promote a spirit of common good so that the true message of Islam, which is one of peace and respect for all, can be seen and celebrated.

“The reason why the Paediatric Department at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital was chosen was because the fundraising was primarily the work of the children who attend STI School and they wanted to help other children. The second reason was because people from all backgrounds and walks of life depend on the work of these hospitals and so it is appropriate in demonstrating that the lessons we learn from the life of Prophet Mohammed are about inclusiveness and sharing with all, regardless of faith, colour, language or social standing.”

The school hosted various fundraising activities; boy pupils held a sponsored fast and sponsored clean-up around the site of the new STI Central Mosque project on Horton Park Avenue, close to St Luke’s; while pupils from Banaat-ul-Islam, the girls' department of the school, hosted a fun day, a quiz, as well as holding book, food and bun sales.

Fifteen-year-old pupil, Zulqarnain Hameeed raised the biggest individual contribution of £311.02 while several other students also handed in three figure sums. Zulqarnain had to ask his teachers for a second sponsor sheet because within just a few days he had filled up both sides of his original form.

Zulqarnain added: "On the first day I went around my street and to the local shops asking people to sponsor me.

“The next day it rained so I just went to a few people who I'd missed the day before. Then it stopped raining so I decided to go further. I went to one shop and the shopkeeper said to me that he would match the total amount I had raised so far, so he doubled my total."

STI School Publishing, the school’s publishing arm, also donated 60% of the retail value of all orders received on its 'Tales from Dhikarville' children’s book series.