The Mancunian Way: ‘As a Muslim you’re told we don’t do this, but I had to’

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When his daughter Diyanah was born with devastating kidney failure requiring 24/7 care, Azizur Rahman made sacrifice after sacrifice to make sure she had everything she needed.

But as the family faced going in and out of hospital, and Diyanah endured gruelling treatment, her loving dad took those sacrifices one step further. Realising she would need a new kidney, he decided to donate his own.

But as Muslim that presented him with a dilemma. “As a child you’re told by your elders that we don’t do this sort of thing,” said Azizur. “The line most people stick by is that we must look after our own bodies as they are given to us by God and we don’t have a right to take it apart.

“Once people knew I was planning to donate to Diyanah, they would ask me about it and say ‘are you sure?’, ‘you do know you’re not allowed to donate your organ’ - even my dad said maybe we should wait. I did my own research into what my religion would allow and it’s funny, it’s the exact opposite of those misconceptions.

“The Quran says: 'If anyone saves a life, it is as if he saves the lives of all humankind'. And ultimately donating an organ is doing just that.”

Thankfully the transplant, carried out at Manchester Royal Infirmary, was a success. Diyanah, now four, has started school and is ‘90 to 95 per cent better’. And by sharing their story the family hope they can encourage other people of a people of South Asian background to become donors and help transform other lives.

“If someone has the opportunity to make a difference to a person’s life they should,” said Azizur. “It is allowed within our religion, there’s no reason not to.” Health reporter Helena Vesty has more here…

Tilting the balance

It’s an unlikely location for something that could change the future of Greater Manchester’s economy. But hidden behind rows of terraced houses in the Stockport suburb of Reddish, work is taking place that could do just that.

The site has been chosen for the location of a new £350m data centre. Construction is already under way and is due to be finished by 2026.

And if Kao Data, the company behind it, has their way, it could help kickstart a move which sees the centre of the UK’s IT, AI and technology industries tilt away from London to the north west. "The UK data centre topology has historically been in the south east around London, because the demand for these facilities is so significant the data centres have sucked dry available power around London," said Tao Data chief commercial officer Spencer Lamb.

"We need to distribute these data centres across the country, and for the resources and skill set around the north west and Greater Manchester, we've chosen the process of developing this site." Declan Carey reports

Man City’s £300m bargain

It's not often you can call something costing £300m a bargain. But Alex James argues Manchester City's North Stand redevelopment is beginning to look like a wise investment.

With figures of £2bn to build a new Old Trafford, and £1bn to extend Newcastle’s St James Park being bandied around, Alex says the relative pittance being forked out by City could prove to be one of the best deals they’ve struck in recent years. More here

Reach for the heavens

Church spires once dominated the skylines of our towns and villages. But, in Manchester at least, they’ve long been overtaken by the city’s love affair with skyscrapers.

And nowhere will that contrast between old and new be more striking than Rochdale Road where, if developers get their way, a 23-storey tower block will be built next to the 19th Century Particular Baptist Chapel. Ethan Davies has more here

‘I fear you’ll forget us’

‘Don’t forget the little guy’. That’s the appeal from one of the UK’s best chippies, as the gentrification of Prestwich continues apace.

With Rudy’s Pizza set to open and rumours that Gail’s Bakery are eyeing up the village for their next branch, Dan Edwards, owner of Chips@No.8 has made a heartfelt plea to customers to keep supporting all the ‘great little places’ that made Prestwich so popular in the first place.

“Support local, support independent,” he said. “Please. More than ever we all need you.” Adam Maidment has more here…

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Weather etc

Weekend: It looks like we could be in for a bit of everything weather-wise this weekend, with sun, rain, cloud and even the chance of a bit of frost all forecast over Saturday and Sunday. Ashlie Blakley has the weekend forecast here.

Roadworks: Temporary traffic lights due to gas main work on Market Street in Bury near Angouleme Way. Expect delays.

Manchester headlines

Fire: Huge plumes of smoke could be seen billowing over Manchester this morning after a fire broke out in Gorton. It started in a commercial building on Longden Road at the border with Levenshulme. At its height around 50 firefighters were battling the flames. Read more

Pub sale: A landmark student pub is set to receive a £1m transformation and a new name after being bought for just £1. The Footage on the corner of Grosvenor Street and Oxford Road, closed suddenly in May. But it’s now set to be given a new lease of life. More here

Police chase crash: An unmarked police car crushed a motorbike after smashing into it following reports of a 'chase' in Westhoughton last night. Dramatic pictures show the wreckage left on Church Street, near Manchester Road, after the bike was reportedly hit by the car.

Worth a read

The leaves are turning, there's a nip in the air and that means it’s conker season. If you’re going out conker collecting this weekend, make sure you read Emma Gill’s guide to the best places to go hunting in Greater Manchester.