Award for dedicated charity worker, 81
A CHARITY hero has been recognised for her outstanding contribution to the fight to beat a devastating illness.
Meriel Buxton, 81, of Kibworth Beauchamp, has been given a Points of Light award by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for her impressive work with the Cure Parkinson’s charity.
Meriel and her colleagues at Cure Parkinson’s have raised more than £350,000 in their efforts to support research into a cure for the debilitating illness which claimed the life of her brother, Gavin, in 2012.
Along with her sister-in-law, who also suffers from Parkinson’s, Meriel set up the charity’s Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland committee.
It has raised between £30,000 and £40,000 a year since.
Meriel said she is honoured to have received the award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a difference in their communities.
She said: “It’s really nice to be recognised nationally. I don’t think many people in the community know much about it, but Cure Parkinson’s is delighted.
“It’s a great honour. It’s extremely nice to be among them.
“Finding a cure for Parkinson’s is the most important thing, it really is a condition that does need more attention. It hasn’t had a lot of money invested in it over the years.”
Meriel dedicated the award to her husband, James, who died earlier this year. He too was involved in many charities, including Cure Parkinson’s, as treasurer of the committee, and the British Horse Society.
Neil O’Brien, MP for Harborough, said: “I’d like to congratulate Meriel on winning the Points of Light award.
“it’s fantastic to see her hard work and incredible efforts being recognised in this way. Meriel has raised a tremendous sum for Cure Parkinson’s that has made such a difference to its important research work, and I’d like to pay tribute to her and her brilliant contributions.”