New Kingsbury temple gives £30k to Kenton charity

A six day festival boasting colour and dance followed the official opening of the new temple (Image: Archant)

A Kenton charity has been given a £30,000 cash injection thanks to the fundraising efforts by members of a new temple in Kingsbury.

Worshippers at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury participated in a host of events in the last three months to raise the five-figure sum on behalf of St Luke’s Hospice in Kenton Road.

Temple faithfuls took part in activities including the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere, in the Lake District, St Luke’s Midnight Walk and a skydive – collectively raising more than £20,000.

St Luke’s was chosen by the Hindu temple as its official main charity partner.

Boris Johnson visited the new temple in May (pic credit: Jan Nevill) (Image: Archant)

Last week it hosted a six-day festival which boasted colour and dance to celebrate its official opening.

The hub is part of a wider £20million project including the construction of the new temple, believed to be the first environmentally friendly one in the world.

Pam Russell, St Luke’s director of fundraising and community relations, told the Times the money wall be used to open up a new centre at the hospice which will deliver a range of treatment, therapy and advice.

Expressing her gratitude, she added: “St Luke’s is rooted in the local community, providing free care for local people and relying on the community for 70 per cent of the funds that we need to support our patients.

“Without the generosity of organisations like the Shree Swaminaryan Mandir we wouldn’t be here.”

In May, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, visited the temple where he cut the red ribbon to commemorate the official opening of a brand new multi-purpose building that offers a variety of sporting, social and family activities.