Southwark dad puts up Christmas lights 21 years in a row to raise money for charity

Southwark residents dreaming of a bright Christmas are in luck.

Gunaltay Mustafa, of Albany Road, has set up his annual lights display for the 21st year in a row to raise money for the Anthony Nolan charity.

Mr Mustafa’s son Alex was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just three years old and underwent chemotherapy for a period of three years.

Although the treatment was initially successful, Alex had a relapse four years later and was given just a two per cent chance of survival.

But Anthony Nolan stepped in and found Alex, who was then 11, a match and gave him the transplant.

Mr Mustafa said: “He’s 26 now and touch wood he’s doing well. He’s only on two tablets a day – antibiotics because he lost his spleen.

“He used to like lights and that’s why I did it.”

Children are welcome to enter the garden to look at the lights.

Mr Mustafa said that they are often ‘amazed’, adding: “They look forward to them every year.”

Despite the lockdown Mr Mustafa raised £1,700 last year and this year he hopes to raise more.

His favourite decoration is the 6ft blow up Father Christmas, which he has had since the first year – although it has seen better days.

Mr Mustafa said that some of his stitching is coming loose and he has to be tied up to stay upright.

The Anthony Nolan charity helps people who are suffering from blood cancers by finding them life-saving matches and also conducts research into stem cell matching and transplants.

To donate visit: https://justgiving.com/fundraising/xmaslights2021