Nancy McMillan has been presented with a lifetime achievement award for her dedication to community work in West Lothian, despite suffering from cancer.
Born in Bathgate in 1941, Nancy has been a tireless worker in her community for the past 30 years.
During that time, she has helped many people with learning disabilities, and she has also taken charge of the local Girls' Brigade.
Nancy joined
the Girls' Brigade at the age of five and later took the role of captain.
After leaving Lindsay High School in 1957, she took a job with insurance firm CIS, while continuing to work for the Brigade.
She was recently awarded the organisation's Endeavour Trophy after carrying on with her duties despite being diagnosed with bone cancer.
Last week, she celebrated 46 years of marriage to husband David.
The couple had their first child, Duncan, in 1964 and their second boy, Stuart, arrived in 1967.
Nancy returned to work in 1979 after looking after the boys in their early years and spent another 18 years with CIS before retiring.
Her desire to help out in the local community saw Nancy approach the Volunteer Society in 2003, to find out how she could dedicate some of her spare time to the people of Bathgate.
Despite her work with the Girls' Brigade, she later joined the Our Voice – Our Choice group, helping people with learning difficulties and supervising them on organised trips.
Looking after a group of around 20 people, Nancy would go on outings, helping those who found it difficult to speak to communicate with others.
Last Wednesday, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Volunteer Centre award ceremony in Whitburn.
Nancy was keen to play down the award, saying: "Lots of people do more work than I do.
"There are more deserving people out there than me and younger people should get more recognition than they do.
"They always seem to get a bad press, but their efforts should not go unnoticed."
Last December, Nancy was diagnosed with bone cancer after beating breast cancer ten years ago. She has received radiotherapy, but there is no cure and says she is simply trying to remain comfortable.
Nancy enjoys trips to the local swimming pool and was also part of a walking group for people over the age of 50 until she was forced to give it up because of her cancer.
The full article contains 410 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
