Day hospice driver volunteer rewarded

A VOLUNTEER who drives patients to appointments at a day hospice in Wokingham has been recognised for his dedication.

Derek Harding, 67, who lives in Wokingham, was one of 95 volunteers nominated to be recognised for a prestigious award organised by national charity Sue Ryder last week.

The annual awards aim to celebrate volunteers’ commitment and achievements, recognising volunteers who have gone the extra mile and made an outstanding contribution to Sue Ryder’s work.

As a volunteer driver, Derek’s role involves collecting patients from their homes across East Berkshire and driving them to the Sue Ryder Wokingham Day Hospice to receive specialist care at the charity’s day hospice in Wokingham. Derek plans each journey around the comfort of the patients, keeping up to date with traffic news to prevent delays and avoiding bumpy roads. His expertise means he can also train other van drivers and help with service and

MOT arrangements, and he even helps in the day hospice when it is short of volunteers.

Kellie Raeburn-Ward, Sue Ryder Volunteer Services Coordinator said: “Derek is an extremely dedicated volunteer and he works with the highest integrity. He is a pleasure to work with, is well regarded by staff, patients and volunteers, and no matter what the situation, he takes it in his stride with a smile.’’

Tracey Le Gallez, Head of Volunteering at Sue Ryder commented: “Each and every one of our volunteers is invaluable to us and we can’t thank them enough for giving us their time and skills. So many people help us by volunteering in our shops, care centres and offices, and in their local community, helping Sue Ryder provide care for people with a life-changing diagnosis”.