The chairman of Pegasus Playscheme, who has been made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, has dedicated the award to her son who she has called “the light of her life”.

Sue Clark, 61, of Collingwood Road, St Margaret’s, has been awarded the title because of her services to children with disabilities.

The mum of three became involved with Pegasus Playscheme – a three-week summer activity programme for youngsters aged eight to 25 with disabilities – when her son Jamie, who has Down’s syndrome, was five. He is now 26.

In 2003, when the entire committee resigned, she stepped in as a fundraiser and a year later was made chairman.

She told Kent Online: “This is a family achievement and I am honoured and proud to receive it.

“But really it’s for Jamie. He’s the light of my life.

“All that he has done and achieved, it’s enhanced our lives so this award is for him and for all the children who come to Pegasus.”

Jamie was selected as the 2012 Olympic Torchbearer in Dover. Because of this there is also a steel sculpture of him standing alongside James Bond author Ian Fleming and Forces’ Sweetheart Dame Vera Lynn on Dover seafront.

Mrs Clark received the good news via a letter in the post six weeks ago and has had to keep it a secret since.

She said: “I remember the day it arrived as it was freezing and we’d lit the fire.

“My husband, Tom, had opened it and thrown the envelope in the fire. I was doing the washing up and he kept saying, ‘this is a weird letter’ and then he told me he thought I’d better sit down.”

When she read its words, she welled up.

“I just started crying and I cried all day until about 4pm.

“I thought I don’t deserve an MBE. I’ve only done what I’ve done for Jamie like I did my other two; allowing him to get out in the summer and make friends and memories.”

Mrs Clark describes her role as chairman as like a full-time job.

It involves raising £70,000 a year as well as planning and hiring to ensure a group of 40 youngsters, accompanied by 40 teenage volunteers, 12 staff members and four bus drivers, have a summer to remember.

They enjoy days out every weekday for three weeks. Activities include horse riding, swimming and cinema trips.

In more recent years, Mrs Clark has started a Youth Forum for young adults over 18. They meet throughout the year on the first Wednesday of the month at The Archer pub in Whitfield.

Pegasus Plus is a new initiative she has founded for this summer, for those who used to be a part of the playscheme but are now too old to take part.

It will run three nights a week throughout the three-week playscheme.

A mini bus loaned by Dover College will allow them to enjoy evenings out together.

Mrs Clark admits she is only one piece of the jigsaw.

She said: “Pegasus is a committee and I want to accept the award of behalf of everyone who has had the Pegasus passion since 1986 – that’s the staff and the children that make Pegasus what it is.”

She celebrated with family this weekend with champagne on the Thames and has thanked people for their touching messages.

This year’s playscheme runs from Monday, July 24 to Friday, August 11 and finishes with a ball at Dover Town Hall.

Mrs Clark said the playscheme is only £6,000 away from its £70,000 target.

To donate email pegasus1986@btinternet.com