Today our thoughts are with the family and friends of Amani Liaquat on the first anniversary of her death.
Amani was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) after collapsing at home on her 22nd birthday in April 2020.
After standard of care failed to stop the growth of her tumour, Amani’s family decided to source life-prolonging treatment from Germany for which they, with the help of relatives, friends and strangers, raised more than £100,000 in 24 hours.
Sadly, Amani’s condition deteriorated and she was told she had exhausted all treatment options. She passed away on 21st February 2022, at the age of just 23.
During her courageous 22-month battle, Amani, a first class honours law graduate who was awarded a Masters degree in Applied Social Welfare, with Distinction from the University of Bedfordshire shortly before her death, undertook numerous fundraising and campaigning activities, including organising Luton’s first ever Walk of Hope and setting up the Fight4Hope Fundraising Group.
Her efforts, and that of those she inspired to fundraise, have raised £100,000. In the hope of helping others, Amani’s parents, Yasmin Stannard and Khuram Liaquat, generously gifted £40,000 from the remaining crowdfunding donations not used for her treatment.
She formed a friendship with The Wanted singer Tom Parker after the pair bonded over their shared experience of a GBM diagnosis. After Amani’s death, Tom paid tribute to her on Instagram, writing: “She was an incredible young lady. Bright, smart, funny and I had the greatest pleasure to have met her.”
Hugh Adams, our Head of Stakeholder Relations, said: “Amani was a much-loved supporter of Brain Tumour Research and her story had a profound impact on everyone who had the privilege to know her. Amani will never be forgotten and her legacy is one of which her family can be immensely proud. We’re incredibly grateful to her family for their ongoing support and to all those who knew and loved Amani for their help in raising funds for our charity. We keep Amani in our hearts as we fight to find a cure for this devastating disease.”
To donate in memory of Amani, please visit Fight4Hope’s JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/campaign/Fight4Hope
Or text FIGHT4HOPE to 70085 to donate £5 to Brain Tumour Research. Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.
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