Helena Peace, from Alston, Cumbria, originally came on board as a one-off volunteer at the Hamsterley Beast in 2018 but was so impressed by the charity that she decided to continue supporting GNAAS and is now an events and collections volunteer.
She said: “After moving into Cumbria a year ago I wanted to get involved with a local charity. After many years of volunteering with various charities I was excited to get involved with GNAAS, an organisation that everyone has so much respect for.
“Hamsterley Beast was my first event with GNAAS and I was impressed with how professional the charity were with events and looking after their volunteers. Everyone was extremely friendly, and it was also amazing to meet someone who had experienced first-hand the lifesaving work provided by GNAAS after her husband had nearly died following a biking accident.
“After a great first Summer helping at events, I expanded my activities to service collection boxes and find new locations for them. Again, I was provided with great training and support and although you work remotely you still feel part of the team. I’ve been organising some local events like a pub quiz and we will be participating in Alston Gala. I’m also starting to lead at events too which is very rewarding.
“I have been volunteering for many years and it is always amazing to work with such a wonderful group of people. Everyone at GNAAS has been very supportive and friendly and it is great that there are roles which are flexible in terms of how much time you want to commit to activities. As someone who works full time, it is great to be able to support such a wonderful cause at times that suit my availability.
“I really enjoy the events, as you get to meet lots of different people connected to GNAAS and it always amazes me how many people you meet that have had to be treated and airlifted by GNAAS. It really makes you appreciate the amazing work this charity does. It’s also a fun way to explore the area and attend some great functions.”
Find out more about the volunteering roles available at GNAAS here: https://gna.as/volunteering
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