Moray woman awarded British Empire Medal for voluntary services to MND research
Lucy Smith says it's "surreal" to be awarded a BEM
A woman from Moray who has suffered with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) since she was 19 is among the recipients on King Charles III's first Ney Year's Honours List.
Lucy Smith, 28, is being awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her voluntary services to MND research.
90% of people with MND die within three years, but Lucy has defied the odds since being diagnosed almost a decade ago and has since had two children, aged one and three, and got married earlier this year.
Lucy is active in MND Scotland’s 'No Time to Lose’ campaign, creating a Scotland-wide definition of what constitutes accessible housing, with 10% of new build homes built to wheelchair accessible standards and those living with MND fast-tracked for accessible housing.
A hard secret to keep
Lucy says that she found out about her award a while ago, but hasn't even been able to tell her husband.
"It feels a bit surreal.
"I can't quite believe it, and I don't think I really will until it's been announced.
"I've had to try and keep it a secret and I'm the worst person at keeping secrets - he (Lucy's husband) knows somethings not right!
"But everyone knows something is going on, because when I lie, I laugh. I'm really terrible at lying.
"I know how lucky I am. I've got a three-year-old, I've got a one-year-old, I'm married and I've now been awarded a BEM."
Raising the profile of MND
Lucy has worked tirelessly to increase the profile of MND, something that former rugby players Doddie Weir had done before his death in November.
She says people like Doddie and fellow rugby player Rob Burrows are insirational.
"They're beacons of hope.
"When I was first diagnosed, the profile was so low, I didn't know what it was. The only person that I knew that had it was Stephen Hawing.
"Seeing people like that in the spotlight and fighting MND so courageously, it's just inspiring, it gives you hope that it's okay."