Courageous Aksa Marshal did not let two serious operations keep her from attending the sixth anniversary party of the Meet and Mingle social group she had created.

The group provides friendship and a social life for Asian women living in Slough - and guests who attended the celebration at the Copthorne Hotel included the town's MP Tan Dhesi and mayor Cllr Paul Sohal, as well as TV presenter Andy Kumar.

Aksa had only come out of hospital two days before the event after undergoing two emergency surgeries. She has been battling ovarian cancer.

But she still made it to the event and was presented with an award and a certificate titled '100 successful and inspiring women of the world'. The award was given by doctors Caroline Makaka and Pauline Long from an organisation called 'LOANI' (Ladies of All Nations International), who brought it all the way from Florida, America to present it at the event.

Aksa's name will be recorded in the Guinness Book of Records and also in the book titled '100 inspiring women of the world' which can be picked up from libraries all around the world.

The evening also honoured all the volunteers of Meet & Mingle who have been looking after the group for the past year and a half due to Aksa's serious health issues. The volunteers were awarded with special sashes and tiaras to crown them for doing an amazing unpaid voluntary work in running the group daily.

Aksa thanked the team and said they are the pillars and the backbone of the group. She said their dedication and hard work is highly appreciated.

Great entertainment at the party was provided by K Sparks, a famous Bollywood dance group. A special appearance and workshop was performed by Karan Pangali, who is a well known Bollywood dancer and runs a dancing school all over UK and abroad.