Leicester businesswoman Sunita Aggarwal hits the target with a swing and putt during this year’s ‘Do As Raj Would Do’ golf day.

Honouring Raj’s Memory: A Remarkable Fundraising Journey – Ambitious Fundraising: £100K for Local Charities

With the help of all her retail friends and family, Sunita has been fundraising for the past three years in memory of her beloved husband Raj. Setting up a national campaign called ‘Do As Raj Would Do’ to pay tribute to Raj’s giving nature and helping others.

Raj was one of the first people in Leicester to pass away from COVID-19. To commemorate his death, Sunita set an ambitious target to raise £100,000 for Leicester Hospitals Charity and Sheffield Hospitals Charity as a result of the Aggarwal family’s links in both cities.

Dedication to Leicester and Sheffield Charities

Through various events, activities, and golf days Sunita has continued to fundraise for both Charities. Both Raj and Sunita helped previously raise funds for Leicester Children’s Hospital, helping to complete the first phase of a state-of-the-art standalone children’s hospital in the East Midlands.

Creating Comfort for Families: Honouring Raj’s Legacy

As part of a lasting legacy, a room within the children’s hospital was named in honour of Raj and her father-in-law.

Family was hugely important to Raj, and so it was fitting that the first donation made in his name went to fund the Kishan & Raj Aggarwal Room in the Cardiac Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at the children’s hospital.

The room is a beautifully decorated quiet room, where parents of sick children who are receiving treatment for various illnesses and recovering from the care they receive at Leicester’s Hospitals, can grab a moment of calm to gather themselves and re-energise away from the ward environment but still be close to their child.

The room is well used, and having facilities like this makes a real difference and brings comfort to families at the most challenging of times, something which was close to Raj’s heart. Sunita wholeheartedly can relate to having the space when the family is hospital so it’s a fitting tribute to Raj to be able to support the hospital in creating these vital spaces for our patients’ families.

Benefiting Sheffield’s Well-Being: Continuing Raj’s Legacy

The second project that has benefited from the funds raised is the well-being garden at the Sheffield Northern General Hospital.

“Raj made me proud through his helping others. I want to keep that giving legacy going and I want to make him proud of me,” said Sunita.

To reach the target Sunita hosted a second golf day on Thursday 4 May 2023 which was an enormous success, raising over £31,805 on the day and helping to push the overall figure to £106,859. The money raised on the day will go to both Charities to help local people within the cities of Leicester and Sheffield.

Sunita continued:

“The campaign brings together Raj’s family, friends and business network to ‘Do As Raj Would Do’ which is to enjoy life and enjoy a fun day together whilst making a real difference to others.”

Lisa Davies, Director of Leicester Hospitals Charity said:

“We’re so proud of the continued support of Sunita, her and Raj’s family and friends. They have continued Raj’s legacy by raising money that will directly help the care of the local communities of Leicester and Sheffield.

“The spirit and generosity that Sunita has shown is remarkable and we were so pleased to have helped support the golf day and reach the fantastic fundraising target.”