TRIBUTES have been paid to a dedicated charity worker who had sadly lost his battle with cancer.

The 33-year-old from Huddersfield was a regional youth leader and mentor for Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Associations (AMYA) – a charity that seeks to teach young people life skills by engaging them in community and charitable initiatives. He had raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity.

Optometrist Kamal Aftab, 33, vowed to raise £50,000 in a “hospital marathon” after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

He raised more than £21,000 for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research by walking 10 miles in his room at St James’ Hospital in Leeds.

The youth worker died on Friday after a six-week battle with the illness. His friends and family pledged to reach the target in his memory.

Mr Aftab had previously raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity and last year was voted The Guardian 2014 Volunteer of the Year for his work, which included mountain climbs and trips to Africa to help treat people with visual impairments.

Adam Walker, a close friend, told BBC Asian Network: “Kamal was an exceptional human being who was driven by his faith in God, which he felt encouraged him to always help those in need irrespective of who they were.”

Hundreds of people attended Mr Aftab’s funeral on Sunday afternoon.