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Top Chef contestant Fatima Ali gets $50,000 gift from Ellen DeGeneres to travel the world

Top Chef contestant Fatima Ali gets $50,000 gift from Ellen DeGeneres to travel the world

After being diagnosed with terminal cancer, the Pakistani chef resolved to dine at the world's best restaurants
Updated 03 Nov, 2018

Pakistani chef Fatima Ali, popular for her turn as contestant on last year's Top Chef, appeared on The Ellen Show this week to talk about how she's dealing with her terminal cancer diagnosis.

The 29-year-old chef recently penned an op-ed for Bon Appetit, in which she shared that she has a year to live and intends to use it to make amends with the people in her life and to sample the finest food all over the world.

Fatima's flair for life and passion for food caught the interest of Ellen DeGeneres who invited her to talk about it on Ellen.

After crossing meeting Ellen off her bucket list, Fatima said that her plan now is to travel the world to dine at the best restaurants. Her friends from Top Chef have already kicked off a GoFundMe page to help her out but Ellen made sure she wouldn't need that.

The host gifted Fatima a cheque for $50,000 to finance her culinary journey.

Related: Masterchef winner Saliha Mahmood is writing a cookbook inspired by Mughal cuisine

Fatima appeared on season 15 of Top Chef and was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer Ewing's Sarcoma right after. Chemotherapy appeared to benefit her initially but cancer returned in September with the doctor telling her it has metastasized.

Comments

imran Nov 03, 2018 01:54pm
respect!
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Sameer Nov 03, 2018 01:56pm
Fatima is a brave soul! Visit Pakistan please.
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mazhar Nov 03, 2018 03:08pm
I admire your courage.
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Sara Nov 03, 2018 03:10pm
Praying for a miracle treatment that can save you. A positive attitude can change many things. Keep up the good spirits!
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Naresh Nov 03, 2018 04:49pm
well done
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Uncle sam Nov 03, 2018 07:58pm
Live it up. Wish you the best.
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Tariq Islam Nov 03, 2018 09:03pm
Oh such a special person!Bless you
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Sal Nov 03, 2018 09:39pm
I saw her in Chopped episode as well as in Top Chef and she actually cooked pork without tasting it and then went on to win that episode of Chopped. Her charisma and professionalism is beyond description and it's sad that she is going through all that. My best wishes and prayers for you.
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Farooq Nov 03, 2018 11:18pm
High-dose chemotherapy, with a biologic adjuvant such as a check-point inhibitor, with an autologous stem cell transplant, in one of the ongoing clinical trials is still an option.
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Ahmed Nov 04, 2018 02:20am
A generous gift from a compassionate person. Many cancers are curable now, hopefully this brave and positive young lady will beat this one. Wishing her the best of luck and success.
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N abidai Nov 04, 2018 08:18am
Miracle can happen, she is a positive energy! God bless
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Asif Nov 04, 2018 07:37pm
What a brave girl; way to take Cancer Head on. Respect!
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Zak Nov 04, 2018 09:30pm
Fatima, faith in Almighty and positive mind and you will defy the Doctors and live a long and happy life. We pray for your full recovery.
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Mehreen Rehman Nov 07, 2018 02:58am
Incredible girl and a reminder that we should all live as if there will be no tomorrow. Love & Prayers.
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