Bradford dad 'never lost his sense of humour' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Friend and colleague pays tribute to father-of-three who inspired £3,300 of charity donations

9:00am Saturday 9th February 2013 in News By Rhys Thomas, T&A Reporter

Tributes have been paid following the death of a Bradford father-of-three whose illness inspired family and friends to raise money for charity.

Tehseen Khan, who was 32, had been suffering with a brain tumour and more than 1,000 people attended his funeral at Scholemoor Cemetery.

Friend and former workmate Tony Bates said: “There was an enormous turnout of people at his funeral – he was a very nice and well-liked guy.

“He was a big personality in his community, a very traditional Muslim. He did lots of charity work, including with Asian youth charities keeping young lads on the straight and narrow.

“He was a very good role model to a lot of people.”

Mr Bates worked with Mr Khan for four years at the Bradford Primary Care Trust’s headquarters in Douglas Mill, Bradford.

Mr Bates was a nurse, while Mr Khan worked in the patient record department.

“We got on well and were in regular contact outside work.,” said Mr Bates.

“From our perspective as work colleagues and friends, it has not been the same since he has not been there. He is an enormous loss.”

Mr Khan, of Clayton Heights, had been unwell since April, when he started to suffer bad headaches. After a couple of weeks off work, with no improvement to his condition, he collapsed at home, and was diagnosed with a tumour in his brain.

Mr Bates said: “It is so sad someone so young has gone like this. Towards the end he was still texting with the same wit and sense of humour, he was just becoming more tired.

“But he retained his humour throughout. He was very brave. He will be greatly missed by all those that knew him.”

Earlier this year Mr Bates, an avid Bradford Bulls fan, helped Mr Khan raise money for The Ummah Welfare Charity, which works with deprived communities in Southern Asia and Africa, by wearing the shirt of sworn rivals Leeds Rhinos to a Bulls game.

A group of 17 NHS workers did the Bradford City Run in December to help raise money.

The two fundraising efforts raised about £3,300 for the charity. The web links to both are still open and Mr Bates said Mr Khan’s family would be hugely appreciative of any donations towards the charity. Anyone who wants to donate, should visit justgiving.com/tonybates80 or justgiving.com/runfortehseen.

Mr Khan also leaves his wife, two brothers, one sister and his parents.