Around £100,000 has been collectively donated to a Bucks charity after a 23-year-old woman sadly died of a brain tumour.
Amani Liaquat, who was originally from Luton, Bedfordshire, was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) on her 22nd birthday in April 2020.
The Masters student and first-class honours law graduate battled bravely with her illness before passing away in February this year.
During her final 22 months, she developed a close friendship with Wanted boyband member, Tom Parker, who was also diagnosed with GBM.
Her passing occurred just six weeks before the musician died in March.
Since her death, around £100,000 has been raised for the Milton Keynes-based charity, Brain Tumour Research.
After her death, Tom Parker posted a tribute on his official Instagram page, saying: “In the early hours of this morning Amani sadly passed away.
“My thoughts and love are with her family.
“She was an incredible young lady.
“Bright, smart, funny and I had the greatest pleasure to have met her.”
During her courageous battle with the disease, Amani became a passionate supporter of Brain Tumour Research and was an integral part of the charity’s #BrainTumourPetition and Stop the Devastation campaigns.
She also undertook numerous fundraising and campaigning activities for the charity, including setting up the Fight4Hope fundraising group and organising Luton’s first ever Walk of Hope.
Her efforts, and that of friends and family she inspired to fundraise, have raised more than £54,000.
Amani’s parents, Yasmin Stannard and Khuram Liaquat, have also generously gifted £40,000 to Brain Tumour Research from the remaining crowdfunding donations not used for her treatment in the hope of helping others.
Later this year, they will be joined by Amani’s sisters Ruqayyah and Maleehah and other family members on a visit to the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at the Queen Mary University of London where the near £100,000 they have donated will fund vital work to help find a cure for brain tumours.
They will have the opportunity to tour the labs led by principal investigator Professor Silvia Marino and speak to scientists about their work to find a cure for brain tumours, before laying 33 tiles on the Wall of Hope, each of which represents the £2,740 it costs to fund a day of research at the centre.
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Yasmin said: “Amani loved being involved in campaigning and raising awareness about the lack of research into brain cancer research.
“It brought purpose and focus to her darkest days and gave her something to focus on outside of herself and her own problems.
“Many times she could be heard saying 'it might be too late for me but I want to make a change for others'.
Khuram added: “We hope the money we’ve donated will help find a cure for this devastating disease.
“Amani was my hero and the most amazing ambassador for Brain Tumour Research and for that to be her legacy would have made her so incredibly proud.”
For more information, visit www.braintumourresearch.org.
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