WHEN the email arrived in Sarah Griffiths' inbox telling her that she was a recipient of an MBE for her charitable services to people with disabilities as part of The Queen's New Year's Honours list, it was a while before she responded, but she had a very good reason.

"I was actually in hospital having my third son, so I didn't actually see the email until I got home and everything had settled down a bit," explained Enniskillen mum-of-three Sarah, who was born with cerebral palsy and channels her experiences of living with this condition into her work, aiming to empower disabled people to see beyond limitations.

On learning that she was to be awarded an MBE, the talented yet humble children’s writer, magazine editor, inspirational speaker and blogger behind the popular ‘Wheelie Momma’ website said that she was shocked.

"It still feels really surreal because obviously I've seen some amazing people in our own community and famous people getting them in the past, and you always think that would be the most incredible honour to get that, but I never thought [I would].

"I still don't feel worthy. It's really humbling and I'm so grateful but it still feels not real, to be honest," Sarah told The Impartial Reporter.

When asked what it means to her to receive the award for her charitable services to people with disabilities, Sarah said that it is "huge".

"Obviously, with a disability myself, a large motivator for me is to help people with disabilities to see that just because you've got maybe some limitations, or the odds are stacked against you, or you have some obstacles to overcome, it doesn't mean you can't achieve what you want to achieve.

"You can have the life you want to have – and have an amazing life, in fact.

"So, everything I have done has been with that in mind to prove to myself and other people that no matter what physical limitations I have, or anyone has, you can do anything you want to do," she said.

She added: "To be able to help people on a one-to-one personal basis, and also then alongside that at various times to raise a significant amount of money for charity, that in itself is gratifying enough, but to be recognised at such a high level is just mind-blowing, really."