Leyla, one of our current Student Volunteering Ambassadors, is running the Paris Marathon in April raising funds for the Association of International Cancer Research. We spoke to her about how motivations behind this and how her fundraising is going.

When I was 10, my grandmother lost her battle with cancer. At the time I didn’t really understand what was going on. I knew she was ill and had to go for treatments, but I didn’t know why. I remember one day naively walking into her room without her knowing, and she hadn’t tied her scarf around her head yet. She seemed really embarrassed but she looked as beautiful as always to me. She didn’t have to hide anything from me.

Cancer is so cruel. It affects the patient inside out. It leaves them feeling helpless and vulnerable. It was unfair my grandmother had to go through what she did, She didn’t deserve any of it. Not the pain, nor the scars, none of it. My grandmother’s passing broke my mother’s heart. It’s so hard to see someone as strong as my mother cry.  Losing your mother leaves you with an empty space that can never ever filled. And it all just happened so fast. Precious time that we almost always take for granted seemed liked passing moments. After nearly 2 years, my grandmother passed on. The last time I saw my grandmother I said goodbye to her thinking I would see her again. But I never did. I miss her so much.

When faced with a life-changing event such as being diagnosed with cancer, there is a lonely feeling that would not go away. Even family and loved ones feel lost, sad and confused. But things happen in ways we cannot always understand. And only when confronted by the worst possible matter do we start to realise that we’re not alone. Others out there are going through the same thing. An estimated 12.7 million new cancer cases were diagnosed worldwide in 2008. Imagine both the physical and emotional pain that these victims have endured. Many have experienced or are presently experiencing the tragic circumstance, the anguish and pain, and the side effects of typical treatments, which is not limited to loss of appetite, physical pain and anxiety. The greatest wrestle to me is with the decaying spirit and crumbling psyche. Many are hoping and praying for a cure. One day there will be one. I know it.

Cancer research brings us all one-step closer each day to the miracle that is the cure to cancer. With our support it could happen sooner. That is why I have pledged to raise money for cancer research. Every little bit helps, and my friend, Tze Ni and I have challenged ourselves to join the Paris Marathon and to raise £1000 each. The money will be donated to the Association of International Cancer Research (AICR).

We’ve planned out loads of fundraising events to raise the money. The first was a donut sale before Christmas. With some help from our friends we managed to sell about 16 boxes of donuts.

Our next fundraiser was a Lunch Box on the 16th of January. Our menu was beef Bolognese and chicken chimichangas. My family helped out on this one, especially my Dad and my little sister. We stayed up all night cooking up 70 meals. It was exhausting and we didn’t know if we were even going to sell it all, but we stayed positive. At 11 30 am, we only sold about 5 boxes. We were a bit worried, but kept calm. By 12 pm we sold almost half of our boxes and by the end of the day all 70 were gone! Some one even came back for more but we were totally sold out.

It was huge success and we were really proud of ourselves. We are really blessed to have a strong support system backing us up all the way.

We will also be having collaborations with several other clubs and societies. These collaboration fundraisers include a charity concert, a squash tournament and bake sales. I am very touched by all the support given to us by our friends and family.

We are very nervous, terrified in fact, but very excited, as not only is this a personal achievement for us, but I truly believe the charity we chose is a noble cause and that their efforts will change the world one day. Everyone deserves to live a life free from cancer.

To find out more about Leyla’s plans and progress, see their Facebook event’s page.

You can also make a donation on the fundraising page.

Check out Leyla’s photos below documenting her fundraising efforts so far.