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Amani Liaquat's parents pay tribute to 23-year-old after death from brain cancer

Leicester graduate Amani Liaquat has been described as a 'hardworking and resilient" woman by her grieving parents after she passed away last month.

Amani, 23, had her whole life in front of her when was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive brain tumour in 2020 after suffering a seizure on her 22nd birthday. Despite the severe impact it had on her health, quickly became an avid campaigner for Brain Tumour Research.

The University of Leicester law graduate passed away on February 21 with her family by her side. Her dad Khuram Liaquat mother Yasmin Stannard have since received hundreds of messages of support from around the world, from people who were moved by Amani's campaigning.

"At the moment, our pride for Amani supersedes our grief," Mr Liaquat said, "but we know it will get much harder, probably harder than we know. When she was diagnosed, it did hit her quite hard, and she did go very quiet.

"She had her time to grieve that then she said "right, I'm going to start making a difference" and that's what she did," Mr Liaquat added.

Yasmin Stannard Amani 

Amani, from Luton in Bedfordshire, started a podcast called Chat2Amani where she candidly about her condition and her journey through treatment. In her first episode, she told listeners she could "speak for England" but her messages of hope and resilience travelled much further, as she gained listeners from across the world.

Mrs Stannard told LeicestershireLive: "From when she was a baby, Amani was always a happy and chatty child - she was forever talking and always asking questions - that was her superpower. Even for people who didn't know her, she became a kind of voice of resilience and determination for them."

The 23-year-old became an "agony aunt" to friends and family, even to those older than her, her parents told LeicestershireLive. She was described as "the anchor of the family" and looked up to by her younger sisters, Ruqqayah, 21 and Maleehah, 16.

After standard care failed to stop the growth of her tumour - a grade four glioblastoma multiforme - her family sought life-prolonging treatment from Germany for which they raised thousands of pounds with the help of friends, family and complete strangers.

"Amani knew her situation was difficult but she always looked at what she did have in life - like her home and her family. "Her strength really helped us. Even the way she was as a patient helped us through it - she took it all with such grace.mSome days were harder than others but she didn't complain."

Despite her health, Amani had continued to study and completed a masters degree in applied social welfare for which she achieved a Distinction. Five days before she died, the University of Bedfordshire arranged a bedside graduation for her.

Yasmin Stannard The 23-year-old had a bedside graduation five days before she passed away.

"That was a really poignant day for her and all of us because it was her last good day," Mrs Stannard said. "She was quite unwell the days before and then the days after before she passed but that day she didn't need morphine, she wasn't in pain.

"That day was such a gift and has given us all such a great memory. Amani found strength where you just wouldn't expect it. She worked incredibly hard and we're so proud of her for that.

"She led a really full life in the short time she was given and she always acknowledged what a great life she had - she was always thankful for that."

Amani continued to campaign for UK charity Brain Tumour Research until her last days and a JustGiving page set up by the family is still receiving donations. You can support their 'Fight 4 Hope' campaign.