Ambitious initiative by Glasgow student

A cultural festival is being planned by a Glasgow student to help fund the supply of ambulances to conflict zones.

Glasgow Caledonian University student Umran Ali Javaid has already delivered several emergency vehicles to Gaza Burma, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

He also drove an ambulance to the Polish-Ukrainian border to help refugees fleeing the Russian invasion and last year drove another ambulance to the Egypt-Gaza border to provide medical support and help evacuate civilians.

Javaid plans to stage a festival in Glasgow’s Tollcross Park in August and use some of the proceeds to buy more ambulances to help people in need.

He said he wants to buy another 15 ambulances for distribution, 14 of which will be sent to countries around the world while the last one will be donated to a care home in the UK.

The event, called Fun For Life Fest, is expected to feature musicians, comedians, social media influencers and sportspeople, as well as creative workshops and popular attractions such as a ferris wheel and a drone light show.

“I’ve been planning this festival for a long time now. I’ve got a very good team behind me working on this.

“It’s going to be a family friendly festival, it’s for 15,000 people, and it’s going to be held in Tollcross Park on August 2.

“There will be musicians and comedians on the main stage and a sports section which will have an influencer football match and other games.

“At the end of the festival the ambulances will leave to go to different countries around the world.

“I’m really, really looking forward to it. It’s been a dream of mine to organise my own festival.”

Javaid said more announcements about the various acts expected to perform at the festival will be made over the coming months.

For more information about the festival, visit www.funforlifefest.com.