AN inspirational father-of-two who raised thousands of pounds to help fellow cancer sufferers from his sickbed has died.

Shahbaz Saleem, who had just turned 28, lost his year-long fight with the disease in Pendleside Hospice.

The former RAF officer raised almost £17,000 for the Reedley-based hospice in his last few weeks as a thank you for the care he was receiving.

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His family paid tribute to a ‘beloved brother’ who ‘touched so many lives’.

Community leaders also described the senior aircraftman as ‘a true example to others’.

Mr Saleem from Reedley, who was married and had two children aged two and four-months-old, was admitted to the hospice in November after his bowel cancer proved inoperable.

A family spokesman said: “He was very brave to the end.

“Our beloved brother was a true inspiration not just for the community but evidently the whole world.

“His only wish in his later stages was nobody feels the pain he had.

“He wanted to raise as much awareness as possible for cancer in young people and Pendleside Hospice, hence his journey to raise much-needed funds.

“His legacy will live to eternity.

“As a family we are humbled and so proud of our young brother who touched so many lives from his sickbed.”

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson, who recently presented Mr Saleem with a letter of thanks from Prime Minister Theresa May, said: “Shabz was a role model for young people and everybody in the area.

“I was pleased to spend time with him recently and present him with a letter of commendation from the Prime Minister, not just for his service in the RAF but in raising so much money for charity from his hospice bed.

“His life touched the the hearts of so many and his legacy is one of aspiration and achievement.”

Pendle Council leader Cllr Mohammed Iqbal has known the Saleem family for 20 years.

He said: “Shabz leaves an inspirational legacy for his family and the people of the area.

“He shows people what they can aspire to and achieve both in terms of his service in the RAF and by raising almost £17,000 from his hospice bed.

“He was a true example to others.”

Mr Saleem, who served in Afghanistan and Libya after joining the RAF as a teenager, organised several inter-faith events to break down barriers between communities and misconceptions about the armed forces.

He was diagnosed with bowel cancer 12 months ago.

After many hospital visits he underwent a CT scan where it was discovered he had a 10cm long tumour in his colon.

Mr Saleem underwent emergency surgery but the cancer had already spread to his lungs.

Group Captain David Arthurton, Station Commander at RAF Leeming, who earlier this month presented a special RAF commendation to Mr Saleem, praised ‘a remarkable young man’.

He said: “It was with great sadness that I learned SAC Shahbaz Saleem had passed away on Wednesday after an exceptionally brave fight against his illness.

“Shahbaz was remarkable young man who always put others before himself.

“He was the epitome of the Royal Air Force airman, and he will be sorely missed.”

Carmel Wiseman, clinical services manager at Pendleside Hospice, said: “He was an absolute delight for our staff to care for.

“His achievement in raising almost £17,000 so far was phenomenal.

“Shabz was inspirational and will be deeply missed by everyone at the hospice.”

Mr Saleem’s funeral will take place at 1.30pm today after Friday Prayers as the Ghausia Nelson Mosque in Clayton Street and then at the town’s Walton Lane Cemetery.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Shahbazsaleem.