[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Jamal_Hanif_cropped.jpg” caption=”Medical school graduate, Hanif Jamal has helped raise $15,000 for tsunami relief efforts. Photo credit: Susan Anderson”]After a devastating tsunami struck South East Asia in December, many McMaster students, faculty and staff were left struggling to find ways to help. McMaster University medical school graduate, Hanif Jamal was one of these people.

As a first-year family medicine resident, Jamal knows most university students do not have an abundance of extra cash. Therefore, he wanted to find a way for himself and young people in general, to contribute to the cause. He, along with friends Vivek Moorthy, Shachin Glelani, Saroop Bharwani, Sachin Bhalla and Premal Shah, combined their skills as deejays and fundraisers, to create an evening of music, fun and inspiration. The event, named Reach Out 2005, took place recently at Club Afterlife, a nightclub in Toronto.

The event raised $15,000 for the Red Cross Tsunami Relief Fund, far surpassing their $5,000 goal. Money came from ticket sales, private donations, a silent auction, which boasted many donated items from businesses, and raffle tickets that were sold during the evening.

It took a lot of organization and co-ordination to bring the night together, says Jamal. Planning began immediately after the tsunami struck and continued until the event took place. Each member of the team took on a role that catered to their specific skills, with Jamal responsible for media relations and promotions.

Jamal's deejaying experience began in his first year of his undergraduate degree at the University of Guelph. At the time, he didn't realize its fundraising potential.

Jamal and the other organizers of Reach Out 2005 have previously worked together to organize fundraising events. They have raised money for child victims of the Sept. 11 disaster, and have created care packages containing medical supplies for countries in need.

Jamal sees these opportunities as a great way to help out, while at the same time keeping in touch with friends. He works approximately 75 hours a week at the McMaster Family Practice, so with such a busy schedule, it allows him to do two things at once. An event like Reach Out 2005 also gives students a chance to help out financially while inspiring them to do more for the world, he says.

“We often get caught up in finally entering the work force, that we forget about the spirit of giving and sacrifice,” says Jamal. “Our event served not only as a means to raise money for tsunami victims, but also as a medium to empower and motivate our future Canadian leaders to give back to those less fortunate.”