Unsung Hero Award for Khuram Liaquat's Groundbreaking Brain Tumour Campaigning

Strategic Insights -

Khuram Liaquat, father of brain tumour campaigner Amani, has been awarded an Unsung South Asian Community Hero award by Luton Borough Council for his tireless fundraising efforts in her memory. Amani, who passed away in February 2022, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma at the age of 22 and continued to campaign for awareness and funding for brain tumour research despite her illness. Her dedication inspired her family to continue her work, and they have now raised over £150,000 for Brain Tumour Research.

Key Takeaways:

  • Khuram Liaquat has been awarded an Unsung South Asian Community Hero award for his fundraising work for Brain Tumour Research in memory of his daughter Amani.
  • Amani Liaquat, who died from a glioblastoma at the age of 22, was a passionate campaigner for brain tumour awareness and research funding.
  • She organized the first Luton Walk of Hope in 2021, which has since become an annual event.
  • The fifth edition of the Luton Walk of Hope takes place on September 27, 2024, starting at Wardown Park in Luton.
  • Registration for the charity walk costs £10 per adult and £5 for children aged between six and 17, with under-fives free.
  • Brain tumours remain a leading cause of cancer deaths in children and adults under the age of 40, despite accounting for just one per cent of national cancer research funding.
  • Khuram and his wife Yasmin continue to campaign for brain tumour awareness and research funding, with Khuram speaking about his daughter's experience at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours.
  • The family's fundraising efforts have passed £150,000, with donations typically made to the Brain Tumour Research charity, based in Milton Keynes.

Statistics:

  • £150,000: The amount of donations made to Brain Tumour Research in memory of Amani Liaquat.
  • 22: The age at which Amani Liaquat was diagnosed with a glioblastoma.
  • 12-18 months: The average survival time for glioblastoma patients.
  • 1%: The proportion of national cancer research funding allocated to brain tumour research.
  • September 27, 2024: The date of the fifth edition of the Luton Walk of Hope.

Sources:

  • "Parents of young woman who died of brain cancer say they must fight on." Luton Today, https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/arts-and-culture/parents-of-young-woman-who-died-of-brain-cancer-say-they-must-fight-on-4824595
  • "Courageous Luton campaigner who bonded with pop star diagnosed with same type of brain tumour has died." Luton Today, https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/health/courageous-luton-campaigner-who-bonded-with-pop-star-diagnosed-with-same-type-of-brain-tumour-has-died-3579034