Medal given to extreme OCD sufferer

A FORMER beauty queen who suffers OCD so extreme she hoovers herself every day has received a national award for service to the community.

Kelly Waite is so scared that specks of dust on her clothes will spread through her colour-coded house that she uses a vacuum cleaner on herself before entering any room she is cleaning.

The 36-year-old, from Trimdon Village, County Durham, spends 30 hours a week cleaning and bleaches her toilet six times a day.

She will not let other people sit on her living room sofa and refuses to cook or store food in her kitchen, which she describes as “just for show”.

Kelly, who also suffers from ME, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hashimoto’s disease and Fibromyalgia, appeared on Channel 4’s primetime show Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners in 2015.

She has dedicated her life to helping those who have experienced similar problems to her and has raised awareness of issues close to her heart – including OCD, invisible illnesses, domestic violence and bullying.

Kelly was handed a British Citizen Award (BCA) at a prestigious ceremony at the Palace of Westminster in London earlier this week after being nominated by a friend.

She is among 30 people to re-receive a medal of honour – which are given to individuals as recognition for doing extraordinary things in the local community.

Kelly said: “When I found out I had won the award and was going to pick it up I couldn’t believe it. It was a big deal. I didn’t think what I had done was worthy enough for something like that.

“I was really happy, it means a lot to me. It makes me feel good doing stuff for other people and that is all it is about.”