Meet Lancashire's inspirational young citizen of the year who helps cancer patients - even while going through his own chemotherapy

Sahil Usman topped a list of more than 45 young and inspiring people from across the county who have made a real difference in their community.

Sahil, from Blackburn, was praised by judges for his extensive work helping young cancer patients, while also going through his own treatment for leukaemia.

Despite becoming increasingly ill and having intense chemotherapy, his sense of compassion and his need of helping others took priority.

For two years he has organised a project which delivers Christmas presents for children who have to spend the festive season in hospital because they are too poorly to go home. This is

an annual project that takes Sahil six months to raise money, buy, wrap and deliver more than 100 presents.

Sahil, who has been called an inspiration to other young people, is also involved in creating presentations that are delivered within schools and local organisations to raise awareness of

the impacts of cancer in young people by giving an insight into his own experiences.

He also hosts a local radio show which has featured calls from families thanking him for talking about the serious topics that aren’t always spoken about and how much knowledge they

have gained from the show.

Ralph C Assheton TD DL, the former High Sheriff of Lancashire, said: “Sahil’s determined work, over an extended period of time to both raise money and awareness make him a very

worthy winner of the award.”

This week Sahil, along with the runner ups, were sent their certificates and a specially commissioned brochure by the High Sheriff, outlining their achievements. An event to present the

awards was cancelled earlier this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A panel of judges including the former High Sheriff, the Lancashire Partnership Against Crime , Russell Millhouse, Regional Projects Lead from the University of Central Lancashire and

the former High Sheriff Rodney Swarbrick, who initiated the award, also selected a second and third place.

Runner-up Delilah Mawdsley, six, was congratulated for having 12 inches of her hair cut off to donate to the Little Princess Trust which makes real hair wigs for children and young people

with hair loss.

Delilah, from Cleveleys, made the donation in memory of her school friend Charlie Jordan, who died from an aggressive brain tumour aged 11.

The youngster also helped to raise £1,150 for Brian House Children’s Hospital in Bispham who looked after Charlie in his final days.

A joint award was given for third place going to double entrants Tom Mayoh, 11, and Jack Mayoh, nine, from Darwen and nine-year-old Thomas Sibley, from Croston.

Brothers, Tom and Jack, are known in the community of Blackburn and Darwen as “The boys in the shorts” following the tragic loss of their mum, Louise Mayoh aged 39, in July 2018.

Following the death of their mum, the boys decided to raise money for East Lancashire Hospice where she spent the latter weeks of her life.

They elected to wear shorts for six months, including throughout the winter months, with an aim to raise £1000.

Since then the boys have continued to fundraise and have reached a running total of £31,000, and they are still going - and still wearing shorts.

In joint third place Thomas Sibley, was recognised for his fundraising efforts for St Catherine’s Hospice who cared for his Dad sadly died in December 2018.

Thomas spent much of 2019 planning a fundraising event in his dad’s memory. He wrote letters to celebrities requesting items for an action at an event in memory of his dad.

Thomas originally set a modest target of £100 but over the following months, a total of 150 items arrived including signed shirts from David Beckham and Rafa Nadal, a cap from Sir Andy

Murray, a signed card from David Attenborough and mounted discs from Olly Murs and Little Mix.

The evening of the fundraiser raised £21,000 and Thomas became known as the ‘Hospice Hero’.

Lancashire Constabulary’s deputy chief constable Terry Woods said: “I would like to congratulate this year’s deserving winner Sahil, and the runner ups Delilah, Tom, Jack and Thomas.

"They have made outstanding contributions to their communities and their hard work and determination to their causes is an inspiration.

“It is an honour to be part of the Young Citizen of the Year Award. Every year we are impressed with the standard of the entries and this year is no different.

"We have a lot of inspirational young people in our county and it is a pleasure to recognise them in this way.”

Russell Millhouse, head of external and public affairs at the University of Central Lancashire, added: “It is always a very tough decision to place the many and varied achievements of these

standout young citizens into any order, especially as these are individual to both the beneficiaries of their efforts and the nominees themselves.

"The judges have seen another stellar group of selfless and committed young people – some as young as six – from across the county, making real and lasting impacts upon people’s

lives. Our winners, Sahil, Delilah, Thomas, Tom and Jack, are a credit to Lancashire, as are their fellow nominees.”

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