A FORMER Army medic has been awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for her humanitarian work after launching a fundraising appeal to help starving children in Sierra Leone.

Aly-Joy Haworth from Great Harwood was so moved by her experiences while based at the Magbenteh Community Hospital, the only malnutrition ward in the war-ravaged country, that she launched a charity.

The 22-year-old, who now runs the Tavern Pub, on Church Street, Great Harwood, roped in friends and family to help collect donations of money and clothes and organise fundraising events.

Aly-Joy, who was a Lance Corporal with the Royal Army Medical Corps, was nominated for the honour by Colonel Theakston, her Army doctor while in the West African country, who was touched by her efforts to help the poor and needy.

Aly-Joy, whose actual job in Sierra Leone was to teach their Army personnel how to medically treat people, said: "It's a bit mad really, I'm very chuffed.

"I'm shocked at the moment and the news hasn't settled in. I'm amazed by it really."

She added: "The people in Africa are so grateful.

"The children would stand on the side of the road waving madly, happy to see us, even if we weren't giving them anything. They'd sing and dance.

"I really enjoyed everything I was doing and it spurred me on even more. It was so rewarding.

"But some of the sites I saw were absolutely terrible.

"The children who were at the hospital have nothing. Mothers would walk for a full day and night to get to the hospital. When they arrived the babies were dead on their mother's backs and the mother would have to be treated for exhaustion."

But modest Aly-Joy, who returned from Sierra Leone in October last year, would take no credit herself and said her charity work was a joint effort.

"My mum Stephanie has always loved children so I was brought up to be like that naturally and wanted to help.

"And my boyfriend Sergeant Gordon Brown, who is still in the Army, did it all with me. He helped me and kept me going because I was a bit homesick.

"It wasn't just a solo effort, it was a joint effort."

Aly-Joy, who went to St Wulstan's RC Primary School, Great Harwood, and St Augustine's RC High School, Billington, now plans to do a BSC Honours degree in paramedical practice at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

An MBE has been awarded to Zulekha Dala, manager of the AAWAZ Women's Group in Accrington.

She has provided help and support to thousands of black and Asian women across Lancashire.

A friend of tragic mum Caneze Riaz, whose four daughters perished in a fire at their Tremellen Street home and son Adam who died in hospital a few weeks later, Zulekha says she feels humbled by the award.

As well as supporting AAWAZ, she has gained respect through her links with a number of community and voluntary groups across Lancashire, helping and assisting both men and women from all cultures..

A magistrate, Zulekha is also an executive member of the Preston and Western Lancashire Racial Equality Council.

She has a particuar interest in working with women and as a British Muslim, brings integration and understanding to all her groups.

A birthday honour has also been awarded to health professional Christine Hill, who works for East Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

She was awarded an MBE for services to the NHS.

Chris, as she is know to all her colleagues, is the PCT's head of healthcare governance, which ensures that standards and levels of quality service are maintained.

This recognition follows hard on the heels of the NHS Alliance Acorns Award for Clinical Governance, which Chris received on behalf of her team from Prince Charles in a ceremony at London's Clarence House in February 2006.

She has served the NHS for 31 years, starting her career as a trainee nurse in the Southport area.

John Haworth, clinical director for the PCT, said today: "We are so pleased that the dedicated work Chris has done for the NHS, and for the people of East Lancashire, has been recognised.

"She and her team have helped make sure that quality services and high standards have been achieved and maintained. We are really delighted for her. It is an honour well deserved."

Chris has two grown-up children, Charlotte, 27, and Timothy, 22.

David Wilson Taylor, chair of Elevate East Lancashire received a CBE for services to urban regeneration.