A new charity set up by a inspirational woman in her brother’s memory raised £3,300 at its first fundraising event.
Although this is the fourth time the Harry-Krish Mootoosamy Foundation has held an 80s disco at the Old Albanian’s Rugby Club, it is the first time it did so as a registered charity.
The foundation was pioneered by Harry-Krish’s sister, Anna-Ruby Yates, and it has two goals - support music projects for terminally ill children and raise awareness of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, which took Harry-Krish at 39-years-old.
The St Albans dad-of-three fought the Stage IV cancer for seven months in 2014, before leaving behind his wife and family.
Music was a big part of Harry-Krish’s life, as he sung lead in a band with school friends from St Columba’s College and Loreto College.
Guests at the 80s disco included friends and family of Harry-Krish and it was DJ’d by John Mcdowell. Everyone was dressed in 80s fashion trends.
Anna-Ruby said: “Harry-Krish lived 39 very happy and full years and the aim of the charity is to make a difference to children who are seriously ill and bring them some light on their toughest days, just as he did to everyone that knew him.
“His two passions were his children and music and the way in which he lived his full and happy life, always seeing the good in any situation, inspired the charitable causes of bringing music to terminally or critically ill children.”
She said he was “a very special, loving and considerate person who touched the lives of many people”.
Funds from the 80s disco will be shared with well-established charities such as the Keech Hospice in Luton - which provide free, specialist care for people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses.
Although the foundation has only just received charitable status, Anna-Ruby has already fundraised thousands for Pancreatic Cancer UK over the last few years.
Pancreatic Cancer UK list the symptoms of the terminal illness as loss of appetite, changes to bowel movements, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, and recently diagnosed diabetes. For more information about the foundation, email info@hkmfoundation.org
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here