Yahoo News £20,000 raised for aspiring model left covered in burns during Newham acid attack on 21st birthday
More than £20,000 has been raised for an aspiring model left covered in burns in an east London acid attack on her 21st birthday.
Resham Khan had a corrosive substance hurled at her through a car window when she and cousin Jameel Muhktar stopped at traffic lights in Tollgate Road, Newham, on June 21.
She has since undergone a skin graft, has been left with burns across her body and is struggling to regain her sight. Her cousin had to be put in an induced coma.
Since she revealed her story this week, an online fundraising page has been set up by a friend. By Tuesday afternoon, it had surged past the £20,000 mark.
Ms Khan tweeted: “I've just seen the Go Fund Me page... I will NEVER know how to thank people enough.
“This is life changing. Love is everything right now.”
“People all around the world, you're amazing,” she wrote later.
“You give me faith. You give me strength. I can do this.”
The page, set up by Ms Khan’s friend, say: “Resham is usually a very confident young woman. She was preparing to open her own business over the summer, and had plans to model for Asian bridal, make-up and hair artists.
“But now she feels as though her identity has been stolen from her, on her 21st birthday.
“I want to raise money for Resham and Jameel to provide them with additional support.
“Although they are currently in hospital, once discharged, we understand aftercare for them both physically and mentally is crucial.”
In an update on Monday, he wrote: “The donations will go towards therapy sessions to rebuild Reshams confidence, laser eye treatment, accommodation in an area they feel safe and to help them both financially as they have lost out on time at work.”
Tweeting about the attack, Ms Khan wrote: “I'm devastated. I keep wondering if my life will ever be the same. Acid attacks in the UK are unheard of for me.”
She explained: “The pain was excruciating, I was struggling to close the window.
“My cousin struggled to get us away. I saw my clothes burn in front of me. He put his foot down as we were coming onto a dual carriage way but the pain took over and we crashed.
“We stripped off in the middle of the road, running around screaming and begging for water.”
Police are investigating the incident, which took place at around 9.15am.
