DEDICATED volunteers at Solihull’s Marie Curie hospice have clocked up 157 years between them.
The 21-strong group, which includes a couple from Knowle, received long service awards during Volunteers Week (between June 3 and 9) to celebrate their achievements at the Marsh Lane hospice.
Graham and Leigh Perkins from Knowle received their fives and 10 year awards.
Graham has been a volunteer for 10 years and works in the gardens and has recently taken on a role with the Maintenance Team.
The 68-year-old said: “When I retired, I saw a feature in a local newspaper about the Marie Curie hospice and its new premises in Marsh Lane.
“I wanted to stay active so applied to join the Gardening Team and come rain or shine, I have been in the gardens ever since! When Leigh also retired, already being familiar with the work of the hospice, she decided to apply for an indoor role.”
Leigh has been at the hospice for 5 years and volunteers on reception.
She began working in the Inpatient Unit, helping with stock deliveries. During the pandemic, she helped with Lateral Flow testing for visitors and started to volunteer on reception over the weekends.
The 65-year-old said: “The hospice provides a valuable service to the community and is a comfortable environment to those who use the service and their visitors.
“Families are reassured by the care their loved ones receive and visitors are welcomed, whether visiting patients, attending group support sessions, or popping in for a cup of coffee or a lunch in the Bistro.
“Playing a small part in that overall service is extremely rewarding.”
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end of life charity and care for people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s, and advanced cancer.
Frances Glover, Marie Curie Volunteer Co-Ordinator in the West Midlands said: “As part of Volunteers’ Week, we wanted to say a huge thank you to all our Marie Curie volunteers for everything they do to help people living with an illness they’re likely to die from, get the expert care, kindness, and support they deserve.
“Volunteering is not only a wonderful way of giving something back to the community, but also a chance to meet new people and make new friends.
“Support from volunteers like Graham and Leigh help us in so many ways, such as volunteering in our hospice, retail shops, fundraising with local groups and at events or as Companions. They are, and will continue to be, key to helping us close the gap in end of life care.”
For more or to find out more about volunteering click here.
