Donna's story: "Why I became a Dementia UK Volunteer Ambassador"
Donna Hadley – supported by an Admiral Nurse – talks about her life as a volunteer for Dementia UK.
I cared for my mum who was diagnosed with Frontal Lobe Dementia in March 2012. My brother Steve and I wanted to support a dementia charity. We were supported by an Admiral Nurse and I was shocked when I found out that not everyone has access to them. It was a challenge looking after mum and I couldn’t have done it without my Admiral Nurses. The thought that others don’t have this service meant that, for me, it was a no brainer to help.
Since becoming a Volunteer Ambassador, I have done so much. I have received cheques from companies, helped with bucket collections, done presentations to various companies taken part in the new Ambassador training days, attended events for corporate partners and put leaflets in various places!
As Dementia UK is a relatively small charity the support is always there. What I like is they try to phone you before an event to check you’re ok, then afterwards to see how it went.
The expectation of only doing six things a year is good because it levels you out.
It means the world to be a Volunteer Ambassador. Everyone should have access to an Admiral Nurse 24/7. Whatever I can do to help achieve this, I will.
To anyone looking to be a Volunteer Ambassador I would say this role is not about doing the really big things, it could just be putting out and collecting collection boxes, but collectively we are working towards the aim of having more Admiral Nurses across the country Give it a go, you won’t regret it.