Victoria Lee was recognised for her tireless work by the International Women’s Leadership Association — but had no idea she was even nominated in the first place.

She has now been made an ambassador for the US-based organisation that recognises the accomplishments of women who have made a difference in their community.

Speaking of the award last week, a stunned Victoria said: “I am in shock, I have no idea who nominated me. Whoever you are — thank you, I am shocked.

“Who knew a wee gran from Lochwinnoch could win an award like this, I’m still trying to absorb this but it is lovely.

“When I got the email I thought it was a joke at first but once I checked out the IWLA website I realised it was real.

“I still can’t believe it. I’m chuffed to bits and I hope this will help raise awareness of those living with stoma bags.” Victoria, 58, from Lochwinnoch, has survived 54 operations for her Crohn’s disease and has even gone on to start her own beachwear range which aims to allow those recovering from radical major surgery feel glamorous.

For more than two years she has worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the Renfrewshire Stoma Buddies Group which organises support meetings at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

And last year she even flew out to Barbados to provide more than 5,000 colostomy bags for patients after learning they had almost no support for their illness.

“It was a real eye-opener and horrifying to see how much they were suffering,” Victoria recalled. “I knew it was bad over there as nurses do not have the proper training on how to treat stoma patients, but I didn’t know just how bad it was until I got there.

“I know and understand how it feels to be an ostomy patient, and I knew that the patients in Barbados desperately needed our help.

“There was a man who was using a plastic bag taped to his stomach, it was heartbreaking to see.

“Next year we’re hoping to go back and provide more stoma bags. We’re also trying to make sure every hospital in Barbados has a stoma-trained nurse.” Victoria opened her heart up about her struggles to The Gazette back in 2013 which included going temporarily blind nine times.

She created the concept of her beachwear range whilst recovering from radical major surgery, having survived against odds of less than four per cent, after being given only one month to live with Crohn’s disease.

Whilst bedridden, with an open wound for almost a year, Victoria channelled her energies into examining ways to help others with inflammatory bowel disease and stomas and the concept that is Glitter Beach was born.

Colon cancer is common in people with ulcerative colitis. Proctocolectomy is considered the standard treatment when surgery for ulcerative colitis is needed.

If the entire colon is removed, the surgeon may create an opening, or stoma, in the abdominal wall. The tip of the lower small intestine is brought through the stoma. An external bag, or pouch, is attached to the stoma.

Victoria said: “In August 2008 I found myself with one month left to live and undergoing radical surgery with odds of less than 4 per cent, which would leave me with a permanent ostomy.

“Although devastated I picked myself up and vowed to help other patients have a better quality of life. I launched the Glitter Beach Foundation and the Award Winning Glitter Beach swimwear range, and I also won the coveted John Logie Baird Award.

“Having to live with a stoma can often leave the person feeling depressed, demoralised and with low self-esteem.

“Many people think Crohn’s disease is just a sore stomach but it’s so much more.

“That’s why I set up the Renfrewshire Stoma Buddies group — to raise awareness and also offer support to those who feel isolated because of their stoma.

“It’s a constant battle when you have Crohn’s but with the help of others, you feel that life is worth living.” Victoria is raising funds to help ostomy patients in Barbados. Contact 07766 116 551 if you can help.