A COMMUNITY hero who wants us all to Love Haslingden was named Rossendale Woman of the Year 2016 in a ceremony at the Red Hall Hotel in Bury.
Organised by Rossendale Hospice, the event, attended by 70 ladies, raised £3,836. Leesa Amin, a teacher at a pupil referral unit in Oswaldtwistle and chair of the voluntary group LoveHaslingden, was conferred with this year’s title.
As well as running youth club sessions in Haslingden and giving refugee support, Leesa, 25, helped the residents of Irwell Vale during the December floods. Other finalists were Anne Hewitt and Carole Watchorn.
Leesa said: ‘It’s such a great feeling. This award should be dedicated to the people of Haslingden. Not long ago it was referred to as the “forgotten town” and now LoveHaslingden is doing its best to put it back on the map.’
