Fundraising event raises over £830,000 for GOSH Charity

An event held in June by London property developer and philanthropist, Asif Ansari, has raised over £830,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity’s (GOSH Charity) Build it. Beat it. appeal to help build a new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). 

Arranged to mark the 20^th anniversary of his brother, Abid Ansari’s death from a brain tumour, Mr Ansari brought together 300 of his friends, family and associates from across the Muslim community, in Abid’s memory at the Royal Garden Hotel in London. Guests also heard other personal stories from families who had experienced a childhood cancer diagnosis and received treatment at GOSH. 

Introduced to GOSH Charity via the organisation’s Islamic Giving project, Asif Ansari has been a supporter of the Charity for the past two years, sitting on the Charity’s Campaign Board and becoming a Founder Partner of the Children’s Cancer Centre, through an incredible pledge of £1 million.  

Asif has been a prolific fundraiser within the British Muslim community and a significant donor to many charities. As well as being an active volunteer and advocate, he also serves as a trustee for READ Foundation, a charity that funds educational projects in Pakistan.  

GOSH Charity publicly launched its Build it. Beat it. fundraising appeal in March 2023, which is aiming to raise £300million to build a transformational new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH.  

The Children’s Cancer Centre will be a state-of-the-art building, caring for children with some of the most complex and difficult-to-treat cancers. Designed with the needs of children and families at its heart, it will include new inpatient wards, a new intensive care unit, operating theatres and a cancer daycare centre where children can receive their chemotherapy treatment.   

GOSH already treats the highest number of children with cancer in the UK, with a long history of pioneering medical advances and breakthroughs in cancer care. While investment in research and treatment has significantly improved survival rates, cancer remains the most common cause of death in children aged one to 14​ (CRUK, 2023)​, with five children being diagnosed every day in the UK. 

Asif Ansari said:

“I am a very proud supporter of GOSH Charity and honoured to be one of the Founder Patrons for the Children’s Cancer Centre. On the 20^th anniversary of my brother Abid’s death, it was important to me to continue fundraising for his legacy, and I am so touched by the support of my family, friends and associates to raise such a phenomenal amount for a truly worthwhile cause.” 

Louise Parkes, GOSH Charity’s chief executive said:

“We are so grateful to Asif and all his family, friends and contacts for their incredible generosity to support our Build it. Beat it. appeal. The event that Asif organised was truly inspirational, and the money raised will take us one step closer to helping make our vision of building a new Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH, a reality.” 

To find out more about the Children’s Cancer Centre at GOSH and help save more lives, please visit: gosh.org/cancer.