Meet our Supporters: Colchester Royal Grammar School

‘It was an amazing charity event. The entire school came dressed in their traditional clothing. There were many cultures represented – from Nigeria and Ghana to Pakistan and Sri Lanka.’ – Saad Jafri 

The Colchester Royal Grammar School (CRGS) held a cultural day to raise funds for Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (IKCA) this September. We spoke to 17-year-old Saad Jafri, in year 13,  who organised the event with his friends Rayhan Hussein and Malin Wijesinghe.

Congratulations on a successful and well-attended cultural day. What was your motivation to host this event?

“We realise how great we have it in the UK with our healthcare system. When we get ill, we never have to worry about whether we will get treatment or how we will pay for it. But in a country like Pakistan, with a population of 220 million people and only 21 dedicated hospitals, it’s completely different. We wanted to do something to help needy people who otherwise would not be able to get any treatment for a life-threatening disease like cancer.”

Tell us about the event.

“It was an amazing charity event. The entire school came in dressed in their traditional clothing. There were many cultures represented – from Nigeria and Ghana to Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Everyone looked very smart. Overall, it was great fun and much-needed funds were raised. We also raised awareness of the work that IKCA does, by distributing leaflets, T-shirts, and other merchandise so that the message of IKCA could be spread across the whole school community.”

How did you raise funds and how much did you raise?

“We had stalls selling items to raise funds. The food stalls were the most popular. The highlight of the day was our cultural event, which was held in the hall. The audience enjoyed the musical items and other entertainment that was showcased. The event was a great success, with nearly £750 being raised for good causes.”

It’s wonderful to see young people volunteering to bring about positive change. Why did you choose IKCA?

“We decided to commit to sponsoring IKCA under the CRGS South Asian Society for our first cultural day. We knew that an esteemed charity like IKCA would do the best they can. Their mission is to build world-class facilities to help the poor, needy, people with illnesses as terrible as cancer, who can’t afford healthcare. IKCA’s mission appealed to us greatly – to help the needy, invest in modern healthcare and accept all patients in need – whether they can pay for treatment or not.”

Thank you, Saad for taking the time to talk to us. We hope we can count on your ongoing support.

“Absolutely! We will continue supporting the charity in the near future as this is a cause we are dedicated to and passionate about.”

A huge thank you from all of us at IKCA to Saad and all the students, parents, and teaching body at Colchester Royal Grammar School and the CRGS Asian Society.

Want to host a similar event at your school or workplace? Find out about the many ways you can volunteer with IKCA by clicking below.

To get support with hosting your own charity event, contact us today.