Dedicate volunteer Doreen Smith has been saluted for her unstinting fund-raising for the East Cheshire branch of the Alzheimers Society.
Doreen of Prestbury was named as volunteer of the year, sponsored by Macclesfield Borough Council, at the Silk FM Local Hero Awards, on Friday 17 October.
Nominated by branch manager Jo Hawkins, the audience at Macclesfield Town Football Club was told that Doreen as chairman of the fund-raising committee had overseen a team effort of raising £13,000 a year for the nine years she has been involved. She said: “Listening to all the stories tonight, I was gobsmacked that I was in line to receive an award. People think we receive money from the Government or from the Hospital where we have an office, but we have to be entirely self-funded. This award gives us and our cause much-needed publicity."
The Macclesfield Road Safety Team won the Project category, sponsored by the Macclesfield Learning Zone, for its Young Drivers’ Initiative. A new project which started in Macclesfield, it aims to change the behaviour of rookie drivers in the 17-25 age group and in its first 12 months saw 60 young people on its one-day programme. Chairman Ian Holley says: “These are drivers who the Police refer to us as being vulnerable after being stopped for minor driving problems. We’re delighted to have received this award and the scheme is being expanded to other parts of Cheshire.”
Ann Sheedy was named People’s Champion, sponsored by the Macclesfield Express, and nominated by Marylyn Kerby, a senior community worker at Macclesfield Borough Council. She has spent years co-ordinating the Open Arms youth project on the Colshaw Farm Estate, Wilmslow.
There was a surprise award for Council leisure boss Bill North, to mark the 25th anniversary of Macclesfield’s Family Fun Day. The milestone was passed in 2008 and Bill was named a Silk FM Legend for his work in creating the event at West Park, Macclesfield. He said: “It’s been an absolute treasure to me, bringing people back into the park, to enjoy their local environment, and Macclesfield Borough Council had the forethought to fund the event. This award was a complete surprise.”
11 awards were presented in total at the event hosted by Silk FM Programme Controller Andy Bailey, and sponsored by Carpet Creations.
