A school has launched a fundraising campaign in memory of a dedicated community worker.

Moor End Academy in Crosland Moor has so far raised £1,000 for leukaemia charity Bloodwise after the death of former pupil Kamal Aftab, 32, in August.

They hope to help add to the money raised by Kamal, who managed to raise £15,000 of his £50,000 goal for the charity after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia only four months before he died.

The first event for the school was a red fancy dress day, in which pupils paid a minimum £1 donation and took part in a cake sale.

It was preceded by a week of poignant assemblies led by Kamal’s sisters and other family members to gain support for the events.

Kamal, an optometrist who won the Guardian’s ‘National Volunteer of the Year’, in 2014, was an active member of Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association, which teaches young people life skills by engaging them in community and charitable initiatives and raised money for charities such as Macmillan cancer research, British Heart Foundation and The Royal British Legion.

Debra Awty, assistant principal, said: “Kamal was an amazing human being, full of vibrancy and charm, who always placed others before himself.

Kamal Aftab

“Kamal was very passionate about his charity work. He spent most of his life raising thousands of pounds for various charities.

“Moor End Academy has a strong tradition of supporting local, national and international good causes”.

Mr Aftab, who was previously shortlisted for an Examiner Community Award for his services to charity, volunteered as a regional youth leader and mentor for Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Associations (AMYA).He organised and took part in charity events with the AMYA, from charity runs to taking youngsters from Huddersfield to help people affected by flooding in other parts of England.

In a blog to raise funds for charity Mr Aftab wrote of his diagnosis: “I suppose that people in my situation react in a whole host of ways; some feel utter despair; others, a sudden sense of mortality and most, a bit of everything... As for me, I’m an optimist by nature and while different people look for strength in various places, it’s my belief in God and prayer that have carried me through the challenges of cancer.”

Visit www.justgiving.com/hospitalchallenge to donate in Mr Aftab’s memory.