A volunteer at a local cancer charity in Omagh has spoken of his pride after being honoured with a British Empire Medal by the Queen.
Ivan Gilmour is the vice chairperson of Care for Cancer in the Co Tyrone town, and was nominated after volunteering at the organisation for more than 25 years.
After he was told he would be receiving the honour, Ivan said it filled him with pride.
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“I was just so, so proud. I’ve been volunteering here for the last 25 years and there is so much work goes on in here,” he told MyTyrone.
“We help so many people in the area, we are all volunteers here apart from one paid employee.
“Care for Cancer will be 35 years in the local area this year, three people started it initially then I came in as a volunteer after seeing an ad in the local paper.
“A close member of my family had had cancer and survived so that’s why I wanted to get involved.
“Since then we’ve gone from strength to strength."
With its premises in Campsie in Omagh , the cancer charity supports local people with the illness and their families, including providing transport for those travelling to Belfast daily for treatment.
“When you’re in Omagh, Belfast is a long way to travel for people when you are ill,” Ivan added.
“We have over 60 volunteers here and I just find the work so rewarding, that’s what has kept me at it for so long.
“There wouldn’t have been too many days over those last 25 years that I haven’t been in our building doing something, I get a lot of satisfaction from it.
“I’d like to thank all those people that nominated me for this, it’s an award for me personally but it’s also an award for the charity and all those that come through our doors.”
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