Orin Lewis said: “I am very proud and delighted to be awarded this most prestigious
honour by Her Majesty the Queen for my services to Healthcare in Britain and I feel very honoured to accept it on behalf of my children, mother, family, and everyone associated with the groundbreaking and life saving work of the ACLT.

There are numerous reasons why my 2011 will undoubtedly be a year to look back on and rejoice as this award caps off an amazing year, where my “Soul Mate” Beverley De-Gale received 3 major awards including the OBE at Windsor Castle and also includes the
successful Save the ACLT appeal where over £120,000 was raised by the general public.
It is also is the perfect way to start the new year of 2012.

However life is all about Joy and Pain and it would have been so much more perfect if our beloved Daniel was still physically here with us, though it fills our hearts that we know Daniel will be looking down on us both, punching his fist happily in the air.

Having recruited tens of thousands of new bone marrow, blood and organ donors from the
hardest to reach communities and in turn directly saving lives in the UK and abroad, it does
fill me with joy that our efforts have been recognised and is held in such high regard.

My deepest thanks and gratitude goes out to all of the many individuals (especially our loyal and fantastic small team of ACLT staff and volunteers), communities at large, organisations, media, donors and families of patients who have supported me and the ACLT in our never ending quest to educate, motivate, inspire, empower and influence individuals to step forward and commit to becoming potential lifesavers.

Special thanks and love to my Mum, Dad, brothers and sisters, Beverley’s brothers and sisters and Daniel’s donor, Doreene Carney, for their support especially during the saddest episode of this journey, the loss of Daniel.

Finally, it is due to the undiluted love and support of my beloved children Lutalo, Jelani, my beautiful step-daughter Ms Dominique De-Gale, and of course the one person who has always believed in me, Beverley, that I have been able to achieve and make a difference to someone in need.

Thank you deeply for all of your past, present and future ongoing support. We still believe in miracles! How high can we go? How far can we reach? Can we do it? Together we can make it.

In closing it is appropriate to finish using the words of Daniel, because this great young man would just simply say GOOD TIMES”

But hey… there is no time to bask and reflect in our past and present glories.
There is major work to be done, so let’s get started.

Ok Bye,

Orin Lewis (OBE)