Foster carers 'humbled' after being named Hero of Heroes at Moray and Banffshire Heroes Awards
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
FOSTER carers Alan and Anne Doughty have dedicated 34 years of their lives to helping young people.
The pair have fostered 50 youngsters during that time and have even had children named after them in tribute to the life changing support they have so readily provided.
That dedication was recognised when the husband and wife team, who live in Dyke, won the Carer of the Year award at Moray and Banffshire Heroes yesterday evening.
However, they doubled up on the night when they claimed the evening's top Hero of Heroes award to cap well over three decades of remarkable service.
Alan said: "It was a big shock because to learn that we'd been nominated in the first place was unexpected but to win it was humbling really.
"We've fostered people of all ages, from newborn babies right up to the age of 21 and some have their own children now so when people ask us how many grandchildren we've got I always say we don't know because there are so many that call us grandad or grandmother."
He added: "It means a lot (to win Hero of Heroes) but we didn't go into it to be recognised but it is nice for people to do that."
Anne and Alan are set to retire from fostering young people and they admit it hasn't quite sunk in yet.
Anne said: "I think we're really just coming to terms with just hanging our shoes up really.
"It's just been part of our lives. Our eldest daughter was nine when we started fostering. That's all she's ever known."
Alan added: "It seems unreal that we're going to be finishing.
"I think we have (made meaningful change in people's lives) but they have for us as well."
The Hero of Heroes award was sponsored by A.M.McPherson Ltd.
