BEHIND YOU SKIPPER
For the past 29 years, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital, established by our founder Imran Khan, has offered free cancer treatment to 75% of our poorest patients.
This year, we’re uniting with millions to launch a new hospital in Karachi. Here, the rate of oral cancer is one of the highest in the world, and cancer of the gastrointestinal tract is also increasing in the population. Last May, we opened a state-of-the-art Walk-in Clinic offering cancer screening and triaging to the people of Sindh and Southern Balochistan. But the battle to save lives continues.
Join our race to the finish line. Help build Karachi hospital. Find out more
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Imran Khan’s inspiring journey since leading Pakistan to a historic victory at the 1992 Cricket World Cup has been remarkable. His passion for social justice and equality has seen him switch from being a celebrated sportsman to a devoted philanthropist.
His first major step towards this was the establishment of Shaukat Khanum Hospital. This became a national achievement and was a testament to Imran’s commitment to making quality healthcare available to all, regardless of their financial status. Thanks to his pioneering efforts, free cancer care is now a reality for many of the poorest in Pakistan.
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Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi was born on October 5th, 1952, and was the second eldest of five siblings in his family. His father, Ikramullah Khan Niazi, was a civil engineer and his mother was Shaukat Khanum.
Shaukat Khanum was a woman who was deeply proud of her heritage. Coming from a family of proficient cricketers and a Sufi Warrior Poet, she instilled this pride in her children, as well as an iron resolve. Sadly, after a long and agonising struggle with cancer, her family lost her in February 1985 at the age of 63.
Imran Khan: “I saw someone that close to me, for two months, in extreme pain. I think only people who have seen cancer patients can know how they suffer. I think that suffering touched me very deeply. It was like a watershed in my life.”
Little did Imran realise back then that the most painful event of his life would eventually lead to the founding of the largest cancer hospital in the country. Today, Shaukat Khanum Hospital continues to bring hope to millions, providing free treatment to those with limited means and supporting research into the causes and treatments of cancer.
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Imran Khan was deeply invested in cricket from a young age.
His family had many distinguished cricketers, including two of his cousins, Javed Burki and Majid Khan, who both served as captains of the Pakistani national team. It’s no surprise that Imran was inspired by their example and spent much of his childhood playing cricket. He even continued his passion while studying at the University of Oxford.
After graduating in 1976, Imran began his career as a full-time cricketer, joining Pakistan’s national team. He quickly established himself as an exceptional bowler and all-rounder, and in 1982 he was appointed captain – just like his cousins before him. He achieved his greatest sporting success when he led Pakistan to their first Cricket World Cup victory in 1992.
30 years later, Imran is still celebrated for his aggressive batting style and his accurate fast bowling.
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Imran Khan: “My biggest prize money in cricket was winning the World Cup in 1992. The total amount was £90,000. I gave all of that to the hospital and 15-20 per cent of my subsequent earnings”. (FT.com)
Imran made his first fundraising appeal for Shaukat Khanum Hospital on November 10th, 1989. It came during a cricket match between Pakistan and India in Lahore and helped kickstart a series of fundraisers that went global.
The idea of a free cancer hospital for the poor was dismissed by most, but Imran wasn’t discouraged. Two years later, with the World Cup win under his captaincy, his appeal got the boost it needed.
The response was phenomenal and £1.5 million was collected in just six weeks. Imran donated the entire sum of his World Cup prize money to the project and continued to campaign until construction for the hospital was underway.
From the start, Imran was personally involved in the fundraising effort for the project. His other endeavours include the Imran Khan Foundation and Namal Institute (part of Namal Knowledge City), a technical college in Minwali.
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Together, we’ve changed the face of cancer care in Pakistan. Thanks to your support, there are two JCI enterprise-accredited hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar, treating thousands of cancer patients for free each year.
Now, we’re building a third hospital in Karachi. By giving Sadaqah Jariyah to our new hospital, you are not only helping us provide cancer care to the people of Karachi but to all of Sindh and Southern Balochistan. Join our race to the finish line this year. Help build Karachi hospital.
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