Volunteers scoop awards (From South Wales Argus)

Volunteers scoop awards

3:47pm Friday 6th June 2008

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THE hard work and determination of Gwent volunteers was rewarded at an awards ceremony.

Jacqui Bate, BRfm Community Radio founders Sue and Rob Ball and members of fundraising group, In the Pink, picked up their Wales Volunteer of the Year awards at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay.

Epilepsy sufferer Ms Bate, 45, had to give up her job and forfeit her driving licence, after she was diagnosed with the condition.

She joined the Gwent Epilepsy Group six years ago and has won a trustee award for all her work within the group and also her efforts working with the Welsh Assembly Government developing a directive document for epilepsy services.

Ms Bate said: "The most satisfaction I get out of this is knowing that we've helped someone with epilepsy to be more confident and to enjoy a better quality of life."

BRfm, which broadcasts across Blaenau Gwent, has been credited with giving Brynmawr a new lease of life and has won an award in the group category.

Mr and Mrs Ball set up the station four years ago in the first floor of their optical practice and now the station has 32 volunteers as well as 12 volunteer directors.

Mrs Ball said: "I am absolutely delighted that BRfm has won this award. BRfm is an enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteers who show what a partnership between communities and organisations can achieve."

Teamwork has paid off for six Ebbw Vale friends who have raised more than £500,000 for breast cancer research over the past seven years.

Known as In the Pink, Elizabeth Sullivan, Shan Caron, Brenda Shepherd, Wendy Cahill, Jacquelline Evasun and Carol Hancock have been organising walks along the banks of canals to raise money for Cardiff's Velindre Hospital.

Breast cancer survivor, Ms Sullivan, said: "I'm very proud the six of us have won this award. We work so hard and, as a group, we deserve it."

Run by WCVA, the awards recognise those who have made an outstanding contribution to their community.

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