Dad creates impressive Christmas lights display to raise money for charity that saved son’s life

A dad has covered his front garden in a Christmas light display and invited everyone in the community to visit, as he continues to raise money for the charity that saved his son’s life.

This will be the 23rd year in a row that 71-year-old Gunaltay Mustafa has set up his Christmas light display at his home in Albany Road, Southwark, to raise money for the Anthony Nolan charity.

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.

Children are welcome to enter the garden to look at the lights. Mr Mustafa said that they are often “amazed” and look forward to them each year.

Mr Mustafa’s son Alex Mustafa, 27, was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was just four years old and underwent chemotherapy which lasted three years.

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

Mr Mustafa said: “It was a really hard time for everyone. Three years of our lives were going in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital. Then when we finally thought he was going to be okay, he relapsed.”

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

Mr Mustafa said: “My son is as good as gold now – he has been since the transplant. He’s all grown up and working with kids as a teacher.

“It’s really important for me to raise money for Anthony Nolan and also to raise awareness about what they do. They save kids lives.

“I know there will be families who are currently going through what we went through – I want them to know this charity exists and can help.”

Last Tuesday, Mr Mustafa’s light display was turned on for the first time this year.

Christmas lights are draped across the front of the flat as well as the trees and bushes in their front garden. 

From now until Christmas the lights will be switched on every day at 4pm, setting the house aglow with hundreds of colourful LEDs.

Dotted across the display are light-up Robins, Christmas trees and reindeer as well as Mr Mustafa’s favourite inflatables – a 6ft blow-up Father Christmas which he has had since the first year and a family of polar bears.

He said: “The inflatable Father Christmas is still going strong. We thought he might have had his day a few years back but he’s doing great.”

Last year Mr Mustafa’s display raised £400, a drop from the year before when he raised enough to donate £1,700 to the charity.

He said: “It was a bit of a letdown. A lot of people came to see it but fewer people were donating.

“The lights cost me quite a lot to keep on over Christmas each year so it made me think I could have saved that money and just donated – but I know the kids love to come and see it.

“I know is finding it hard right now and some people just aren’t in the position to donate, but even 50p would be great – whatever people can afford.”

To donate to the Mustafa families Justgiving page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/alexslights2023

Pictured top: From left, Gunaltay Mustafa’s wife, a family visiting the lights, Gunaltay Mustafa and Alex Mustafa (Picture: Gunaltay Mustafa)