University of Portsmouth cheerleading squad raises hundreds for charity in support of teammate with kidney failure

The Portsmouth Phoenix cheerleading team, made up of University of Portsmouth students, raised £615 with the event held at The Dockyard pub in Guildhall Walk.

More than 100 people attended with all proceeds going to Kidney Care UK – a cause very close to one member’s heart.

As previously reported, university student Alisha Gokani, 23, was diagnosed with a rare condition when she was a child that resulted in her kidneys failing when she was seven.

She had a transplant aged 13 after her mum donated one of her kidneys but this failed when she was at university.

She has been on dialysis for the last four years but has been able to return to university to continue her studies and also be a part of the cheerleading club.

She said: ‘We decided to support Kidney Care UK as it is a charity that actually cares for people.

‘Kidney failure is often chronic, meaning people suffer from the condition over a long period of time whilst most of the time there is no direct cure, other than a transplant which is a life-long treatment. It’s so important that those with kidney failure have a sense of community through their journey and Kidney Care UK do just that with the emotional, practical and financial support they provide.’

Hannah Brown, rag and events secretary at the university, added: ‘The night was a huge success, it was amazing to see so many faces from both the University and the public supporting such a great cause.

‘Thank you to everyone who came, to our Vice President Tayah Kalli and Club Captain Olivia Meakes helping with the event organisation and our welfare secretary Meg Higgins my amazing co-host.’

It comes as more than 4,600 people nationally, including 123 patients in Hampshire, are currently waiting for a kidney transplant, with this figure expected to rise.

Community fundraising manager at Kidney Care UK, Laura Toop, said: ‘We can’t thank Alisha and Portsmouth Phoenix cheerleading society enough for their generosity. There are three million people with kidney disease across the UK right now, and thanks to this donation we will be able to support more people who need us.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Subscribe here for unlimited access to all our coverage, including Pompey, for just 26p a day.