SOON-to-be 80-year-old Jean Newsholme turned her lost dream of becoming a teacher into a lifetime of fundraising, after launching Brownie and Girlguiding units and raising more than £200,000.

Jean, who was not well enough to attend Friday’s awards ceremony, was given her gong over the weekend on behalf of the Steve Prescott Foundation by Joanne Griffiths, a former division commissioner for St Helens.

She was commended for not only raising huge amounts for Girlguiding, Woodbank Activity Centre, Save the Children Fund and Willowbrook Hospice but for her determination as she still volunteers from the comfort of her armchair, despite having battled cancer.

On Friday war veteran and triple amputee Andy Reid picked up the award on the grandmother-of-one’s behalf.

Joanne said: “When I handed her the award she started crying.

“No one had told her she had won and she didn’t think she would have done.

“She said it is just second nature to her to volunteer and that she has dedicated her life to it after realising she financially couldn’t become a teacher.

“She started her first Brownie group in Eccleston in the 1960s and since then has opened several more, and now runs a badge depot from her armchair.

“Jean added that it is so important that everyone volunteers and does something for others, no matter how big or small.

“If everyone did that then everybody would be able to be helped.”