Moston mobile food trader overwhelmed by response of community who raise £80k after racist attack
- Racist arson attack left David OlaLekan Kamison without a livelihood
- Crowdfunding campaign raised over £80,000 to help
- David pledges to use the money raised to continue helping the community
After enduring a racially motivated arson attack, David OlaLekan Kamson and his business Moston Suya have risen from the ashes thanks to a crowdfunding campaign that raised £84k
Mr Kamson, who runs his food business out of a trailer in Moston, was visiting the post office one morning when he was made aware of the arson by the cashier.
Initially laughing the information off in disbelief, simply stating: “It cannot be.”
After making his way to Pym Street car park, David found that his livelihood had been burnt to the ground, moving him to tears.
It was then he decided to reach to people out on social media for moral support
After posting about his loss on Instagram, David was contacted by a complete stranger, Jolus Lutete, asking permission to set up a GofundMe on his behalf.
Within hours it had exceeded the £6,000 goal and soon generated enough to buy two new trailers.
David initially closed the GoFundMe at £40,000 but later reopened it “at the request of the people”, with the intention of using the excess money to do more good in the community.
David had previously had his trailer stolen, which he managed to recover.
In an interview with Pie Radio David said he was racially abused by a man three days before the arson attack and believes the two incidents are linked.
Police are treating the incident as ‘racially aggravated criminal damage’. No arrests have been made so far.
David holds no ill will towards the arsonist. In an interview with New Lion Films David said: “To the person who has touched my trailer, I forgive you, and actually I thank you”, adding that “you meant it for evil, but god meant it for good”.
He says that he has had an outpouring of love from the community in Moston since the attack he has received as something he can continue to share.
An avid community activist, David intends to use the money to continue his practice of feeding the homeless and less privileged, including those children affected by the cancellation of the free school meals scheme.
His new trailer, dubbed The Phoenix, is fully kitted out with an inbuilt charcoal grill, chicken roaster, fresh juice machine, and antitheft tracking devices. Continuing to serve west African cuisine from Pym street car park in Moston.
