18 Albertans across the province were honoured for their volunteer work yesterday (October 17th), including a Red Deer woman.

Sharon Schultz was presented with a Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers, by Lieutenant Governor Lois Mitchell at an awards ceremony at Government House in Edmonton.

Shultz, who's been volunteering most of her life, says she's not sure who nominated her for the award a year ago, but she thinks it was for her work raising money for cancer patients.

“I’ve started a fundraiser for head coverings, hats, wigs, for cancer patients. So I’ve operated the Mad Hatter Tea (Party) for the last 9 years, this is our tenth anniversary coming up this spring.”

She says her parents taught her the value of volunteering at an early age, and it's something she has passed down to her children and grandchildren.

“I knew I was going to get into nursing as a young girl, and I started as a candy striper the first year the Foothills Hospital in Calgary opened. I just thought it was just something you should do. I’m still an advocate for young people, you know, job shadowing, getting involved, volunteer with something you have a passion for, because that will help you continue.”