A BALLOCH man with terminal cancer who has raised thousands for charity and a Cardross campaigner have been honoured by the Queen.

Allan Stewart and Sheenah Nelson have both been awarded with a BEM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Allan worked for Dumbarton-based firm Chivas Brothers when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer back in 2016.

Back then, Allan was told he had just two months to live. Three rounds of chemotherapy later, the founder of #TeamChivas is “shocked” to have been honoured by the Queen.

He said: “I received the letter which came marked ‘on Her Majesty’s Service’ – that could have meant any number of things. I had to read it a few times before I took it in.”

#TeamChivas seeks to support charities through both fundraising and logistical and transport support using the Chivas Brothers’ fleet Allan, who has been absent from work since 2016 to undergo his treatment, said: “It has been a difficult last few years to keep up the level of support I’d like to give to the charities and the amount of time I can dedicate to the charity work.

“Having #TeamChivas and all that comes with it in my life has helped me focus and given me a purpose during this period.

“It’s often driven me to get up of a morning knowing I had something to do for the team that day.”

Sheenah, who has spent countless hours as a volunteer for causes close to her heart, has been awarded the BEM to mark her work with Macmillan Cancer Support, Heartstart and heart-related charities.

This week, she told the Reporter the award came as rather a surprise but she was delighted as it highlighted the work of Macmillian Cancer Care and Heartstart.

She added: “You always think this happens to someone else – so I was honoured and delighted.”

Macmillan in Scotland offers practical, emotional and financial help to people affected by cancer.

In 1984, Sheenah was instrumental in founding a Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising committee in the Vale of Leven.

The local committee has raised more than £150,000 in the ensuing period.

Heartstart is a British Heart Foundation initiative to teach emergency life saving skills, with the aim of creating a nation of life savers.

Sheenah initiated Heartstart in the community while a non-executive member of Argyll and Clyde Health Board.

She also served as chairwoman of Dumbarton and District Ambulance Equipment Fund from 1990 to 1992.

She has been chairperson and trustee of the Helensburgh and Local District CPR / Defibrillator Association since 2015.

The former Dumbarton primary teacher has coped with her own health difficulties, including cancer.

Four years ago, Sheenah was diagnosed as having bowel cancer.

She has now been given the all-clear and looks on every day with optimism.