The 2015 Community Achievement award on the night went to Nelson’s Rasheed Begum.

Mrs Begum was presented with the accolade by Fusion judging panel member Kailash Parekh MBE.

Mrs Begum, now aged 70, started to bathe (ghusl) deceased Muslim females in the Pendle area over two decades ago. The ritual is done before each burial.

She took on the role when one of her best friends passed away from cancer. A few years later another close friend passed away after a heart attack.

She began to carry out the work and soon enough she was being asked by almost every family.

Now, she is either asked to conduct the ritual or supervise others.

Despite being told by her GP that she cannot undertake any more tasks of this nature, she never refuses any request from families. At times she is called upon during late evenings and is even asked by burial services to conduct the ritual bathing. Undertaking this task for deceased people over such a period is emotionally draining and very often takes its toll.

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Speaking on the night she said: “I want to thank everyone for this honour. I always felt it was an important job and one for which I never thought there is any need for recognition.”