Prestigious award for local cancer charity

An Island cancer charity is celebrating today, after winning a Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.

The prestigious award to the Isle of Man Anti-Cancer Association recognises a dedicated group of volunteers whose work is of real benefit to the community.

The Manx association is one of only 95 groups around the United Kingdom to be announced as a winner in 2009.

It will receive a certificate signed by the Queen, and members of the group have been invited to a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

President of the association Carole Cowin says it's a wonderful tribute to everybody involved and told Manx Radio:

"It's a culmination of things really.

"All the hard work of the branches throughout the Island and it's all come together in our 50th anniversary year, which is just tremendous for us.

"It's for service to the community and the citation for us this years says: 'for recognition in raising awareness of cancer and promoting a healthier lifestyle for its prevention'.

"And we've been doing that for the past six or seven years, with various projects in conjunction with the Department of Health, and will continue to do so."