Advertising feature from Pride of Britain winner sets sail for ‘magical' reward After years as an NHS campaigner, Michelle Tolley couldn't believe she had been gifted a P&O Cruises holiday NHS campaigner Michelle Tolley fought for answers for the more than 30,000 people affected as part of the Infected Blood Scandal (Image: P&O Cruises)
The 60-year-old (or as she likes to say, '59 plus one') has been a tireless campaigner, fighting for answers for the more than 30,000 people infected with HIV and Hepatitis C as part of the Infected Blood Scandal.
Last year, she won a Pride of Britain Special Recognition Award alongside fellow campaigners Andrew Evans and Jason Evans, and was surprised with a P&O Cruises holiday from awards sponsor P&O Cruises.
'We were backstage and at first I thought they were telling us that fellow winner, midwife Agnes Nisbett, who was on stage, had been given a cruise,' says Michelle. 'And I was so happy for her. Then they said, 'No, all of you have won a cruise!''
It was the culmination of decades of ill health and hard work supporting fellow victims and holding the government to account.
Michelle was infected with Hepatitis C when she received a blood transfusion following the birth of her first child in 1987. She endured 28 years of fatigue and illness, her symptoms dismissed by a doctor, before she was eventually diagnosed. And it was another year until she began treatment.
'I was so angry. I said to my husband Dean, I have to channel this into something good, or I don't know what I will do.'
Michelle went on to manage a support group for fellow sufferers, worked alongside the fantastic Hepatitis C Trust, and presented at the official government enquiry.
Michelle and Dean hadn't been abroad since they were married in 1984.
'I said to Dean, either I'm going on my own or you'll have to come with me,' laughs Michelle. 'We booked a Canary Islands cruise for May. It was the week before our 40th wedding anniversary, and I told P&O Cruises that if I had realised, we could have renewed our wedding vows.
'They called me back and said, 'you mentioned renewing your vows, we've organised that for you'.
'They did everything. They gave me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, did our photographs, gave us a beautiful framed photo, and even treated us to two lovely meals.'
The couple travelled aboard Ventura. Michelle's only cruise reference was a journey she took when she was nine years old in 1976, and she couldn't believe the difference.
'The enormity of seeing the ship was just mind-blowing,' she says. 'It felt like Christmas day and seeing all your presents. I had a childish urge to squeal.
'I just couldn't believe it; it was just amazing. I felt like welling up with emotion.'
As well as their special vow renewal, Michelle and Dean made the most of all the facilities on board, enjoying the incredible food, the cinema and theatre, and exploring Madeira and the Canary Islands.
'At our first port of call in Madeira, I've never seen so many banana trees in all my life. I thought we'd just have a wander, but then I saw a taxi and asked him, 'how much for an hour?'. His name was Manuel, and he gave us a great price and took us on a tour of the island.'
By the end of the cruise, Michelle and Dean were such converts that they booked another one right away.
Now, they're getting ready for a Mediterranean cruise, escaping to the Caribbean in winter, and in 2027, they have a true adventure planned - a 108-day round-the-world cruise with P&O Cruises.
After years of campaigning, Michelle is enjoying a new chapter of life.
'If you've never been on a cruise, I'd say do it,' she says. 'The facilities are fantastic, everyone is so nice, and it is great value for everything you get.'
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