2024 Winner
Manny Singh Kang
Big-hearted football fan has raised more than £260,000 for Dementia UK with events including regular Samosa Saturdays.
Life-long Wolverhampton Wanderers fan Manny Singh Kang set up his first Samosa Saturday outside his beloved club’s home ground Molineux in 2018. He and his family cooked hundreds of home-made samosas then sold them to soccer fans, raising £3,000 for Dementia UK.
Since then, Manny has gone on to raise more than a quarter of a million pounds for the charity with more Samosa Saturdays, along with a range of physical challenges.
Manny, 51, has ran marathons and scaled the Three Peaks. In 2022 he walked 125 miles from Molineux to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge and, earlier this year, he walked 192 miles from Wolverhampton to Newcastle’s St James’ Park.
His most recent fundraiser was a non-stop, 48-hour walk around Molineux in September. Manny was joined for the epic feat by supporters ranging from local schoolchildren to Led Zeppelin rock icon, and fellow Wolves fan, Robert Plant. Forgoing sleep, Manny also persisted despite heavy rain that caused flooding in some West Midlands areas. He explained, “Every step I take is a step closer to a little more comfort for those people who are living with this condition.”
Although Many does not have a personal connection to dementia, he feels strongly that, with one in two families knowing someone with the condition, it is not discussed enough and is something we should all be aware of. He says, “I shouldn’t need a personal involvement to do good. Human beings can do so much good, the energy we use comes from within us and it’s just sitting there so we might as well use it.”
The money Manny has raised has gone directly to pay for specially-trained Admiral Nurses across the country, who go into the homes of those affected by dementia, providing clinical, emotional and physical support. Along with raising money, Manny has inspired a whole tribe of people in his home town of Wolverhampton to support his various challenges and is well-known around the football ground for his fundraising endeavours. His faith and his lifestyle are a huge part of why he tirelessly fundraises. Manny says, “All the challenges are mental challenges, that strength I get from my faith, my way of life and support from other people. Also focusing on the people we are helping helps you build up your mentality and helps you perform these chaotic things.”