Eating at Preston Mowgli will help Derian House Children’s Hospice

A new Indian street food restaurant in Preston has announced a partnership with a local hospice, with proceeds from each diner’s bill helping to fund the care of ill children.

Preston Mowgli has partnered with Derian House Children’s Hospice, which has a ‘special connection’ to General Manager Kieran O’Brien, who has worked for Mowgli for over two years, with the restaurant adding a ‘small discretionary donation’ to each bill.

Located in Preston’s Miller Arcade in the city centre, the new restaurant opened its doors to the public on Monday, 11 July.

Kieran’s cousin, Yaaseen Mulla, spent the final hours of his short life being cared for at the hospice.

Kieran, 32, of Manchester, said: “As part of the Mowgli Trust, each restaurant has its own nominated charity, and I think it’s incredible that Mowgli Preston has chosen to support Derian House Children’s Hospice.

“My cousin, Yaaseen, passed away at Derian House two days before his fourth birthday after an 18-month battle with leukaemia.

“It has been 18 years since we lost Yaas, but I have seen how much Derian House has continued to support my family.

“We’ve been busy at Preston Mowgli preparing for our big opening, and we will definitely be planning some fundraising events for Derian House once we’ve got the restaurant up and running – I’m really looking forward to it.”

Derian House provides respite and end-of-life care to more than 450 children and young people across the North West.

Adele Holland, Yaaseen’s mum, said: “Yaaseen was only at Derian House for a short time, but the care and support they gave us was amazing.

“We went to Derian House on 9 September 2004, where we stayed for 12 hours. Yaaseen passed away early in the morning.

“Yaaseen’s birthday was just two days after he died, on 12 September, and the Derian nurses asked us what we were doing to mark the day.

“We hadn’t even thought about it. It has now become a tradition that we visit Derian House every year to leave cards in Derian’s reflection area and to remember Yaas.”

Adele said Derian supported the family ever since, with Adele’s two children, Aziz, 30, and Raeesah, 25, only 11 and 7 when Yaaseen died, so they joined Derian’s bereavement group, Stepping Stones, where they made friends.

Adele said: “I’ve watched Derian grow over the years, and we continue to support this amazing charity after all this time.

“I’m so glad Mowgli has chosen to link up with Derian House. Yaaseen always looked up to Kieran when he was a teenager, and I feel that this is all very fitting – a special coincidence – that will help families like ours.”

Nisha Katona is the CEO and founder of Mowgli Street Food restaurants and the Mowgli Trust charity.

Katona said: “To be able to bring our chat bombs to Miller Arcade whilst also supporting the local children and families of Preston who need life-changing care is the very reason Mowgli exists.

“To stand with Derian House Children’s Hospice is the least we can do.

“We’re excited for team Preston to work with our new charitable sibling and make a world of difference.”

Kerry Pritchard is a community fundraiser at Derian House Childen’s Hospice.

Pritchard said: “We’re thrilled that Mowgli Preston has chosen Derian House as its house charity, and we look forward to our future partnership.

“Although it’s free for families, it costs £5.7 million to run services at Derian every year. Mowgli’s generous donations will go a long way to help families – just like Adele’s.

“The new restaurant is stunning – it will be a great addition to Preston!”

For more on Mowgli and its charity trust, visit – https://www.mowglistreetfood.com/

For more on Derian House Children’s Hospice, visit – https://www.derianhouse.co.uk/

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