A dedicated health campaigner from Cardross has been personally thanked by Prince Charles for helping to improve the lives of others.

Sheenah Nelson's decades of voluntary work for Macmillan Cancer Support was recognised by the Prince when she was invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace.

Sheenah travelled to London with other Macmillan volunteers to meet the Prince who has been patron of the charity for 40 years.

He wanted to thank all the volunteers from across the country for their long and outstanding service to the community.

She told the Advertiser: "It was a humbling and inspiring experience. We thought it would be just a quick meeting, but the Prince spent around three hours with us in the wonderful setting of the picture gallery in the palace.

"When we arrived at the palace, we were greeted by the Master of the Royal Household who explained how we should address the Queen if we should meet her unexpectedly.

"It was such a fine occasion I was quite overawed by the time Prince Charles spoke to our group.

"He was very interested in the work our committee does and spent time asking us about our home area and how our committee operates."

Sheenah, who has volunteered for Macmillan Cancer Support since 1984, has bravely coped with her own health difficulties, including cancer.

At the age of 19 she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.

This was later refined to Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE or Lupus), an incurable immune system illness that occurs when the body's immune system attacks the tissues and organs.

However, four years ago at Christmas, Sheenah was diagnosed as having bowel cancer and was in hospital four three weeks after undergoing major surgery.

She said: "Fortunately, I have now been given the all-clear with my consultant confirming the disease has not spread.

"I now look on every day with optimism and my moto is 'life's for the living, it's not a rehearsal.'"

As well as her work with Macmillian Cancer Care, the former Dumbarton and Cardross primary teacher has devoted countless hours to many other causes close to her heart.

These include the British Red Cross, Heartstart Dumbarton District, Dumbarton and District Ambulance Equipment Fund and she was a non-executive member of Argyll and Clyde Health Board from 1993 to 1997.

A teenager she trained in heartstart techniques saved a neighbour's life after she collapsed in her Dumbarton home in December last year.

Daniel McLaughlin heard the woman's daughter screaming for help and ran to help.

He remembered the advice given to him by Sheenah at a training session at Bellsmyre Community Centre and administered CPR until an ambulance arrived.