AN INSPIRATIONAL diabetes campaigner is to receive international award for his work to combat the condition but says it was never about glory and always about improving people's lives.

Fred Holland, 78, who has carried out work across Worcestershire to raise the profile of the condition will be presented with the International Diabetes Federation award at Kidderminster Hospital on December 17 after a 44-year fight to secure a better deal for those battling diabetes.

The chairman of Wyre Forest Diabetes UK voluntary group which has raised more than £150,000 for children's and hospital groups.

Richard Lane, the Diabetes UK chairman, is scheduled to attend at the awards ceremony. Mr Holland also hopes a representative can attend from the Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire's office.

Mr Holland of Plimsoll Street, Kidderminster, who met the Queen when she visited the Hive in Worcester, said: "I have been campaigning for better services across Worcestershire. It's a big achievement. My daughter Vivienne Mason, who lives in Worcester, has had diabetes since the age of nine (type one). As soon as she was diagnosed I have been campaigning for better services and for improving lives for so many people in Worcestershire. This is my crowning achievement. It is one of the biggest honours you can get. But I haven't done this for the award. I have done it to better people's lives." He said a 97-year-old woman had made his day by congratulating him on the work he had done to improve the lives of people with diabetes. He said: "It was in Sainsbury's. She came up to me and said 'thank you for all the work you have done'. I said 'give me your hand' and she said 'that is the hand that shook the Queen's hand. I'm not going to wash my hands again'"

The presentation was going to be in Istanbul in Turkey but he has arranged to have it presented locally at Kidderminster Hospital. He was put forward for the International Diabetes Federation award which acknowledges outstanding volunteers globally, by Diabetes UK.

Mr Holland is the first person to receive the award in the UK.

He became especially aware of the critical need to improve local diabetes services following his daughter Vivienne’s type 1 diabetes diagnosis in 1971.

His achievements were acknowledged when the Kidderminster Hospital’s diabetes unit was named after him.

In 2013 Mr Holland was one of four finalists in the ITV Midlands Local Hero of the Year awards, which are part of the prestigious Pride of Britain initiative, while earlier this year he was named Healthcare Hero by the BBC in Hereford and Worcester.