A NURSE from Malvern Community Hospital has been awarded honorary life membership of the Parkinson's Disease Society.

Yvonne Fortey was presented with her award by actor Richard Briers, president of the PDS, at a recent gala luncheon at the Hilton Hotel in Coventry.

Mrs Fortey, from Bromsberrow Heath, was a founder member of Worcester and District Parkinson's Disease Society.

She was instrumental in securing £130,000 of lottery funding for community support workers to help Parkinson's Disease sufferers in Worcestershire.

The first lottery grant five years ago brought in £9,000, and a second, in 2000, secured £121,000.

Mrs Fortey first decided to help Parkinson's patients after talking to local people with the illness and realising the need for more local support.

Around that time, her own father was diagnosed with the condition, which brought further personal motivation into her work.

Mrs Fortey, who lost her father last year, has lived all her life at Bromsberrow Heath.

She said: "I feel it is a great honour to be nominated and to receive the award.

"But I feel part of a team, in trying to respond to the needs of people with Parkinson's, which is a progressive neurological condition that affects most activities on a daily level."

Linda Kelly, the chief executive of the PDS, said: "The society is indebted to its supporters, people like Yvonne. She has been an extremely active in fundraising and has generated awareness of the society.

"We are grateful for her hard work, tireless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit."