His optimism and generosity in the face of a terrible illness proved a real inspiration to us all.
But Huddersfield optometrist Kamal Aftab’s battle with leukaemia was not in vain - as his family revealed they now need only a small amount to grant his dying wish of raising £50,000 for the charity Bloodwise.
And an eye clinic on the other side of the globe he campaigned to create has also given him a nod in respect.
Kamal passed away after a short battle with the illness in August 2015, having already raised £15,000 by attempting to walk a marathon within the confinement of his hospital ward.
The total now stands at more than £44,700, and Kamal’s family are desperate to make the final push.
Kamal’s brother Farooq revealed a free eye clinic in Burkina Faso, West Africa, has been named after him, while communities have been rallying together hosting bake sales and running half marathons to generate funds.
Mourners pay tribute to Kamal Aftab
Farooq said: “People all over have been trying to help, Kamal would be incredibly proud.
“When we received the news about the eye clinic, we were very pleased. His work is being carried on.
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“It is a place Kamal really wanted to visit, but unfortunately he never got the chance.
“We really need this last £6k to reach Kamal’s target.”
Since August, events at Moorend and Almondbury High Schools have raised £1,500, while university friends of Kamal have run a half marathon in Leicester, generating £500 for Bloodwise.
Farooq said: “We really need to reach 50k, but we have no plans to stop there and will continue to support and raise money for the charity.
“We have a few more event planned in March.”
Kamal, 32, who described himself as a Yorkshireman and proud Muslim, previously raised thousands for charities and was voted the 2014 Guardian Volunteer of the Year.
Kamal, an eye doctor working in Honley, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia last summer and died six weeks later after being treated at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.
He previously said of his work: “The real point of charity is to do something for someone else selflessly and whenever and wherever you can.
“That’s why I’m planning on raising money from my hospital ward.”
Kamal’s chosen charity Bloodwise is the largest blood cancer charity in the UK, and provides research and support for patients.
The charity was founded in 1960 and aims to fight all 137 types of blood cancer and disease, including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
To help Kamal’s campaign reach £50k, visit https:// www.justgiving.com/hospitalchallenge .
