Pat celebrates with charity which saved her life
A RED Cross volunteer is celebrating 10 years with the charity which saved her life 62 years ago.
Pat Stanyard, who lives in Higham on the Hill, decided to take up the post at the Hinckley store after she first encountered the charity when she contracted TB aged 15 in the early ‘50s.
As her father had already died of the disease, and she wasn’t responding to treatment in the UK, she was one of thousand that the Red Cross paid for to receive altitude treatment in Switzerland.
She said: “I stayed in chalet accommodation that was 5,000 metres above sea level. The air was so pure, and you could nearly touch the clouds in the morning you were so high up.
“You would spend your time during the day in the chalet, and then move to a veranda to rest later on in the day.
“It was the first time I had been abroad, the amount of nationalities was amazing. I kept in touch with some of the people I met, I could speak fluent German at the time because we were taught by the Red Cross workers.
“I spent a year there, it was such a beautiful time and I have such beautiful memories of the fields and cows with bells around their neck.”
After returning from Switzerland, she took up a post as an occupation therapist, where she encountered Red Cross workers again through her work.
Pat retired 10 years ago, and after her remarkable history with the charity, decided to join the store in Hinckley, working in the stock room.
On her 10th anniversary she received a commemorative badge and certificate, and is as passionate as ever about the charity, and why others should get involved.
She said: “I encourage people to work there as it’s the only international organisation. Some people don’t realise how involved they get. They think it’s just a little bit of help or selling a few clothes in a shop but it’s much, much more.”
Pat’s achievement was part of a week of celebration at the store, on Station Road, as it was Volunteer Week, during which they managed to raise £100,000 last year, and also volunteers Natalie Bhanji and Beverley Lowe passed their NVQ in retail at Derby College.