Charity 'honoured' to receive King's Award

A charity and its founder - described as a "fairy godmother" for helping families facing short and uncertain futures - have been presented the King's Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS).

Me&dee, which operates from a small office in Melbourne, Derbyshire, offers support to those where rare illness and potentially life-limiting conditions have been diagnosed.

Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK.

Founder, Maria Hanson MBE, told the BBC: "We never dreamt we would receive it... it just seemed unimaginable for our charity to have reached that status."

The award was presented on Thursday at The Central Co-op County Ground in Derby.

Hanson set up the charity back in 2006 after going through 18 rounds of surgery following sepsis.

"I was desperately needing help, and not being able to get any because I couldn't tick a box," she said.

"My cousin Delia had cancer, and we were horrified how being so ill can devastate your family, and how if you weren't in a certain category you couldn't get help. It was impossible to even talk to somebody other than Samaritans outside of office hours.

"We wanted to set something up so we would give our time free to those who had little time left together... we bring families together to make memories."

Hanson, who has not taken a salary in the 20 years of operation, is technically still a volunteer and took on the name me&dee after her cousin died.

Hanson said the charity helped with the things that "a lot of people take for granted".

The charity supports families where a potentially life‑limiting and often rare illness is diagnosed, by providing everything from private group swimming sessions, unique tailor‑made outings for families, support for siblings through craft sessions, and a specialist bereavement support group

On the award itself, Hanson said: "We were over the moon.

"There was a lot of processes, and we never dreamt we would receive it... we all felt like we'd been hit by a bus, it just seemed unimaginable for our charity to have reached that status.

"We're a team of three with a few volunteers, a small team, but our output now helps 100 families each year and we work with them daily.

"I could not be prouder for the charity to support 9,000 families from our little office in Melbourne.

"Of course, raising funds is one of our biggest challenges, but with the help of our supporters, we keep on fighting to support as many families as we can."

Presenting the award in front of 90 dignitaries, Lt Col David Dawber said: "What me&dee does is absolutely fantastic, and we would like to pass on our huge congratulations.

"It was an honour for me to represent the King and recognise the outstanding achievement by a local, voluntary group supporting and providing support to families when they need it most."

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