Takeaway helps son raise money for dad's funeral

A takeaway owner has helped raise more than £4,000 for a young man who lost his father to a sudden heart attack.

Arfan Mohammed, who runs Sizzlers Fast Food in Abbey Hulton and Kidsgrove, in Staffordshire, said he was working at a new store when he picked up an unexpected call from Tyler, a 20‑year‑old from Bentilee in Stoke-on-Trent.

Tyler told him his dad died on 22 July and, after already losing his mother to cancer in 2014, he wanted help raising funds for the funeral.

"He was crying on the phone," Mohammed said. "You could hear the heartbreak in his voice. A young lad with no parents at such a young age… it just hit me."

Tyler told Mohammed he had seen the community work Sizzlers shared on Facebook and hoped the business might be able to help him raise money for his father's funeral.

After speaking to him, the takeaway owner asked him to come to the Abbey Hulton shop later that day and Tyler walked from Bentilee to meet him.

"That showed how desperate he was," Mohammed said. "He was genuinely crying for help."

Within 24 hours of posting a video appeal, the fundraising had reached £3,000 and went on to pass £4,000.

The video has been viewed more than 200,000 times, with donations coming from across Stoke-on-Trent, the wider UK and overseas, Mohammed said.

"People from all backgrounds have come together," Mohammed said. "Stoke-on-Trent is a beautiful place. The community is like a second family."

Sizzlers has pledged £1,000 towards the funeral costs and is donating 50p from every order to the fund.

A donation box was also placed inside the shop.

Mohammed said the money would go towards flowers, cars, suits and food for the funeral.

"We'll provide the food anyway," he said. "If he wants a different menu, that's up to him."

He added that he had put parts of his business on hold to focus on helping Tyler and managing the response.

Mohammed said he was also staying in touch with the 20-year-old while giving him space to process what has happened.

"I reassure him that everything's going well look how much has been raised, look how many people have shared his story, look how many hearts he's touched," he said.

"But he also needs space. Mental health is a big thing.

"For a 20‑year‑old to go through this on his own it's not fair. So we as a community are doing everything we can."

Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.