After years as a volunteer Michael is up for an award
MICHAEL FISHER from Greystones has been nominated for a Community Hero Award for his contribution to the community, having been a volunteer for over 60 years.
His involvement in the community includes the organisations Wicklow Dementia Support, RNLI, Meals on Wheels, Scouts, and St Patrick’s Church, and he is also a wonderful neighbour.
Votes for Mike can be cast at charityimpactawards.ie by Monday, December 3.
Representatives of the different groups for which Mike volunteers have described him as caring, dependable and dedicated.
All his adult life he has seen a need and quietly stepped in.
It is the combined effect of these roles and the longevity of service that highlights his dedication to volunteering and his community.
Mike has been involved with Wicklow Dementia Support (a local charity supporting people with dementia in the community) since 2013, when he became an ‘alz pal’.
An alz pal is a companion for a person with dementia. He has embraced this role with patience, decency and care, recognising the difficult and isolating situation that many people and their families face. Also with Wicklow Dementia Support, Mike has helped to develop and coordinate three social clubs and has served on the management board for three years. He is always available for social events, fundraising, and anything the organisation needs.
In earlier times, Mike was a keen and dedicated cub and scout leader. He served for almost 20 years, eventually becoming District Commissioner of the East Coast Region. He approached these demanding, time consuming roles with similar dedication and dependability.
Having retired from scouting, Mike immediately began to volunteer fundraising for the RNLI. He has been a dedicated fund raiser for 30 years. He is box secretary of the Greystones, Newtownmountkennedy, Kilcoole and Newcastle branch and responsible for over 50 donation boxes in local businesses. He also organises many fundraising events.
Mike initially helped his wife with the Greystones Meals on Wheels Service. Once again, he saw the need for this vital service and has continued to volunteer - driving and delivering meals for nine years (now himself aged 77). He has also been described as a good neighbour, and helps at his local church - St. Patrick’s Greystones.
Mike is a gentle, humble man, and his lifetime of service has spanned all ages of life from youth to the very old.
He believes in other people, puts them firs, and treats everybody with respect and dignity.