A KIDDERMINSTER man on a mission to raise awareness about diabetes has been given a national award for his tireless voluntary work.
Fred Holland, who set up the Wyre Forest branch of Diabetes UK 34 years ago, was given the Work to Improve Quality of Diabetes Care and Service Award at the first Diabetes UK Volunteer Achievement Awards last week.
The 69-year-old had already been to the House of Commons and Buckingham Palace in London this year after receiving invitations in recognition of his charity work and said the latest gong made it a "hat-trick".
The pensioner, who decided to set up his own branch of Diabetes UK when his daughter developed diabetes at the age of nine, refused to take all the credit for his achievements over the past four decades.
He said his wife, Shirley, who recently developed the condition herself, had supported him all the way, as had other members of the group which has helped to raise funds for equipment and education sessions at the Diabetes Education and Training Centre at Kidderminster Hospital.
"I had a funny feeling there was something going on because people were asking questions but I was really surprised when they told me I'd won this and I thought it was a joke," he said.
"It's nice to receive an award but I would like to share it with all those people who have helped me locally."
Despite having a "very busy" year, the grandfather-of-three - who was given an award for his contribution to the community in a special ceremony at the House of Commons - has no intention of taking a back seat in the fight to raise awareness of diabetes.
He is predicting an increase in the number of cases of the disease in Wyre Forest in the coming years and intends to "rekindle" support for the Worcester branch of Diabetes UK, which he set up around 30 years ago.
"I think in Kidderminster alone by 2010 we could probably have had a bit of an explosion - almost an epidemic - of people with diabetes because there is a lot of type two around," he said.
"There are people out there who've got diabetes and still don't know and that's why we need to make sure the awareness is there."
More information on the condition, which is a major cause of blindness among adults, can be obtained by calling Kidderminster Hospital's diabetes specialist nurses on 01562 512322 or 01562 512324.
Mr Holland can also be contacted on 01562 68649.
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