Abingdon Mayor Raises More Than £6,000 for Colorectal Charity Occtopus in Oxford 2026

Key Points

• The Abingdon Mayor‑on‑Thames, Councillor Rawda Jehanli, has raised more than £6,000 for Occtopus, the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust.
• Occtopus supports patients and families affected by colorectal cancer, colitis, Crohn’s and continence issues through research, treatment innovation and education.
• Jehanli chose Occtopus as her mayoral charity of the year after receiving care from colorectal consultant Ms Kat Baker at the Churchill Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• The fundraising campaign includes a highly publicised 1,000‑rep challenge undertaken by Jehanli, which contributed directly to the final total.
• Occtopus is a long‑standing Oxford‑based charity founded in 2003, with a national and international research remit linked to the Oxford Colorectal Surgery department.

Abingdon(Oxford Daily)May 25, 2026 – The Mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames, Councillor Rawda Jehanli, has raised more than £6,000 for Occtopus, the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust, in a campaign that has drawn attention to support for colorectal cancer, colitis, Crohn’s and continence patients in the region.

Jehanli, who serves as mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames Town Council, announced Occtopus as her chosen mayoral charity of the year in 2025–26, highlighting its role in funding practical advances in treatment, education and research for patients affected by bowel and colorectal conditions. The campaign has culminated in a total exceeding £6,000, with funds directed to Occtopus to support local and national services linked to Oxford University Hospitals.

Why did the Mayor pick Occtopus as her charity?

The Mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames, Rawda Jehanli, chose Occtopus as her charity of the year after receiving treatment from colorectal consultant Ms Kat Baker at the Churchill Hospital, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, As reported by Occtopus in its own news section, Jehanli underwent a successful operation for colorectal issues and later decided to support the charity that helped coordinate her care and research.

In a statement published by Occtopus, it was noted that Jehanli wanted to “give something back” to a charity that not only supports patients directly but also helps pioneer new treatments and protocols for colorectal cancer, colitis, Crohn’s and continence care. The charity emphasised that her personal experience as a patient informed her decision to spotlight Occtopus during her mayoral year.

How much money was raised and how was it collected?

The fundraising push led by Mayor Rawda Jehanli has generated more than £6,000 for Occtopus, with the total amount confirmed through public updates by the Mayor’s social‑media channels and local community coverage. One of the centrepieces of the campaign was a 1,000‑rep challenge undertaken by Jehanli on a Friday, during which she carried out 1,000 repetitions of physical exercises over several hours, an effort she described as both physically gruelling and personally meaningful.

As reported by the Mayor’s Facebook page notes, the 1,000‑rep challenge was part of a wider set of fundraising events and community appeals, including donations from local residents, businesses and supporters of Abingdon‑on‑Thames. The combined impact of these efforts pushed the total well above the six‑figure threshold of £6,000, with all proceeds directed to Occtopus for use in its research, education and patient‑support programmes.

What does Occtopus do for colorectal sufferers?

Occtopus, also known as the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust, is an Oxford‑based charity founded in 2003 by consultants and former patients of Oxford University Hospitals. The charity focuses on three core areas, often referred to as “the three Cs”: colorectal cancer, colitis and Crohn’s disease, and continence, aiming to fund practical advances in treatment, education and research across these conditions.

According to Occtopus’s own website and charity‑listing profiles, donations help fund research and innovation at the Oxford Colorectal Surgery department, which has an international reputation and is at the forefront of managing colorectal diseases. The charity also supports improvements in patient care pathways, specialist training for clinicians and public‑facing information that helps people understand bowel and colorectal conditions, including screening, treatment options and follow‑up care.

How will the Mayor’s fundraising support patients?

The Mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames, Rawda Jehanli, has stated that the funds raised will be used to “support patients and families affected by colorectal cancer, colitis, Crohn’s and continence issues,” quoting the charity’s own mission wording in her public communications. Occtopus, in its own charity‑insight piece on the mayoral campaign, explained that donations from such local initiatives can help fund specific research projects, equipment upgrades and educational materials for both patients and healthcare professionals.

As highlighted by Occtopus, the charity’s work includes funding national and international research that can influence how colorectal diseases are treated across the NHS, which means even locally‑raised funds in Abingdon can have a wider impact on treatment standards and outcomes. The charity also notes that community‑driven campaigns like Jehanli’s help raise public awareness of colorectal cancer and inflammatory bowel disease, potentially encouraging earlier diagnosis and more timely referrals.

Background: The Mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames and her charitable role

The Mayor of Abingdon‑on‑Thames is an annually elected civic role within Abingdon‑on‑Thames Town Council, with the holder traditionally choosing one or more charities to support during their mayoral year. In 2025, Councillor Rawda Jehanli was appointed mayor and announced Occtopus as her designated charity of the year, following a selection process that reflects the mayor’s personal and community priorities.

The Town Council’s “Mayors’ chosen charities” page lists Occtopus as Jehanli’s nominated charity for 2025–26, underlining the ongoing nature of the campaign beyond a one‑off event. Local outlets and charity channels have reported that Jehanli’s decision to support Occtopus was influenced both by her personal medical experience and by the charity’s long‑standing presence in Oxfordshire’s healthcare landscape.

Background: Occtopus and the broader context of colorectal support

Occtopus was founded in 2003 by colorectal consultants and former patients at Oxford University Hospitals, with the aim of improving outcomes for people affected by colorectal cancer, colitis and Crohn’s disease. The charity has since grown into a recognised national and international partner in bowel‑cancer research, often collaborating with academics and clinicians to translate findings into clinical practice.

Charity‑listing platforms and Occtopus’s own site describe its role as funding “breakthrough national and international research” and “practical advances” in surgery, diagnostics and supportive care for patients. Given the high incidence of colorectal cancer in the UK and the lifelong impact of inflammatory bowel disease and continence issues, such charities are seen as critical complements to NHS services, filling gaps in research, equipment and patient‑support funding.

Prediction: How this development may affect local and national audiences

For residents of Abingdon‑on‑Thames and the wider Oxfordshire area, the Mayor’s campaign may increase awareness of Occtopus and bowel‑related health conditions, potentially encouraging more people to seek medical advice at an earlier stage or to participate in future fundraising events. Local businesses and community groups that engaged with the campaign may also be more likely to support similar health‑charity initiatives in coming years, reinforcing a pattern of civic involvement in health‑related causes.

For patients and families affected by colorectal cancer, colitis, Crohn’s or continence problems, the additional funds from Jehanli’s campaign could contribute to improved research outputs, better‑equipped clinical teams and more accessible information resources, all of which may translate into refined treatment pathways and higher‑quality support services over time. At a national level, the visibility generated by a town mayor spotlighting a specialist colorectal charity may encourage other local leaders to select similar health‑focused charities, amplifying attention and funding for bowel‑cancer and inflammatory‑bowel‑disease support across the UK.