A Derbyshire charity which helps families facing short and uncertain futures create memories has won the King's Award for Voluntary Service.
Melbourne-based me&dee, set up by Maria Hanson, was nominated in recognition of its outstanding voluntary community service over the past 19 years. It is volunteer-led and operates out of a small office with a team of just four.
The award is the highest honour a voluntary group can receive in the UK, and is considered equivalent to an MBE. Last year, across Derbyshire, only five organisations achieved this status. Winners will receive a certificate signed by the King, a domed glass crystal and will be invited to a royal garden party.
The charity helps families where a potentially life-limiting, and often rare illness is diagnosed, by providing everything from group swimming sessions, outings for families, support for siblings through craft sessions and a specialist bereavement support group. Since the start, it has supported 9,000 families.
Maria Hanson, 71, founder and unsalaried chief executive of me&dee, said she was "overwhelmed and overjoyed" that her charity has been recognised. She said: "This news is truly wonderful and I am very happy that our charity has been named winners in this year's King's Award.
"It is more than I could ever have imagined when I set up the charity all those years ago. My focus has always been to help and support as many families as I can and that is why we still do what we do.
"Without our wonderful volunteers who literally roll up their sleeves to help support our families, we would not be who we are today. Our volunteers are compassionate, have huge hearts and a great deal of empathy.
"They want to make a difference and I am extremely proud of every one of them."
Maria is affectionately known as Derby's 'Fairy Godmother' because of the continuing support she gives families facing challenging times. Despite battling her own disabilities, she works tirelessly to sprinkle joy into people's lives with her continuing care programme which has been designed to work hand-in-hand with families.
The number of families seeking support has risen every year since it was set up 19 years ago. Since its inception, its vision has always been simple - to ensure that no family faces the most difficult times alone.
Maria, who also provides round-the-clock phone support, added: "We are an extremely small charity that is always thinking big - and we do this thanks to our amazing volunteers. Our mission is to support as many families as we can, as well as working hard to raise funds, which is an enormous challenge for us."