Two volunteers recognised for combined 60 years’ service for Demelza

Erith residents Gina Medlen and Lesley Steer have been supporting Demelza since before the hospice was even built.

After seeing a leaflet about the need to raise funds for a hospice to be built in Sittingbourne back in 1994, the pair formed the Erith Friends Group to fundraise and began an association with the charity that has lasted ever since.

Their initial fundraising efforts included a sponsored walk and they held stalls at various events in all weathers, selling different items and spreading the word about the planned hospice.

Lesley said she felt passionate about supporting the campaign as she was working as a nurse on a children’s ward at the time and saw how much difference a hospice would have made to a child who had come in for end of life care.

The 73-year-old said: “At that time the closest hospice would have been up in Oxfordshire so there was a need for it. The hospital just wasn’t the right place.

“It’s changed so much over the years. I do feel proud to have been involved with Demelza for so long. I have met some of the parents and families over the years and seeing what Demelza has done for them does make me feel proud to be part of it. It doesn’t seem like it’s been 30 years.”

After the site was built in 1998, both Lesley and Gina continued to support Demelza, raising funds by selling Christmas cards. They carried on fundraising towards the Demelza's second hospice, which opened in Eltham in 2009, and both still get involved when they can, gathering collection pots in their area and raising awareness where possible.

This week (2 – 8 June) is Volunteers’ Week, an annual UK-wide campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers.

As part of this, Demelza has several activities going on to recognise the vital difference its team of more than 1,100 volunteers make to the running of the charity.

To mark their amazing achievement, Gina and Lesley were presented with 30-year Long Service Awards and a certificate on Wednesday (June 4).

Gina, 69, said: “We watched the first bricks being laid in Sittingbourne which felt amazing and to then see it actually open to the children was fantastic and well worth all our efforts.

“I do feel proud to have been involved in such an amazing cause.”

Head of Voluntary Services at Demelza, Lynne Clark, said: “Our volunteers are a vital part of everything we do at Demelza.

“They support the charity in so many different ways, from helping with DIY, housekeeping and gardening to cooking, working in our shops and helping at fundraising events.

“We are so lucky to have such a dedicated team of volunteers and it’s so humbling that people like Gina and Lesley have been with us for our whole journey.

“We are so grateful to each and every one of our volunteers who so selflessly give up their time to support the children who use our services and their families.”

There are always plenty of volunteering opportunities at Demelza in lots of different areas of the charity.