I’m so humbled and grateful to let you know that I’ve been awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List – the first honours to be awarded during the reign of King Charles III.

It was a few weeks ago when the news came through – and I almost thought it was a joke. It couldn’t possibly be real, could it? Once the penny dropped, I was dumbfounded and then sworn to secrecy.

It’s truly humbling to be considered for this honour alongside the amazing people up and down the UK who seek to make positive change in a multitude of ways. I can’t believe I’ve been counted among them.

In case you didn’t know MBE stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – and it’s the third highest ranking honour of the Order behind the OBE and the CBE.

It is awarded for ‘outstanding achievement or service to the community which has had a long-term significant impact’.

Even reading that and considering that applies to me is something I still cannot quite believe – especially when there’s so much more to do!

I’ve received the honour for the work I’ve done to educate others about the risks, dangers, and realities of living with allergies and anaphylaxis. Also, for my contribution to business and exporting (my company Creative Nature exports to 16 countries worldwide).

I also seek to empower those who live with allergies and anaphylaxis to live their best lives – which is one of the reasons I was so passionate about becoming an ambassador for MedicAlert.

Very few people who have allergies wear a MedicAlert piece of jewellery – yet it could save their lives. To experience an emergency as an allergy sufferer and then find the medicine being given contains an allergen is a nightmare situation. This reduces that risk dramatically.

As you know by now, I have severe allergies myself including being allergic to all nuts. If I am exposed to some allergens, I can go into anaphylactic shock which can impact my breathing very quickly. I’ve been hospitalised after inhaling a certain brand of aftershave, and even gone into shock after putting a hair product on my hair which contained almond. And those are just two examples of the risks I run daily.

Allergies are rising globally, particularly allergies to food and particularly among children.  Living with allergies in our society is not easy. People like me can feel isolated, excluded and humiliated when we need to ensure that what we eat, or drink is safe for us – and that can include what others eat or drink around us.

It was this personal passion for living well with allergies which led to me founding my company Creative Nature which specialises in snacks, baking mixes and superfoods which are all free of the top 14 allergens. Now in its 11th year, Creative Nature sells products online and through retailers across the UK and overseas.

I also give talks about allergies and my experiences across the UK and the world, and I will continue to do so. I’m not done yet. I intend to continue to speak out for people like me so that those who live with allergies do not continue to go under the radar.