REDDITCH superwoman Sonia Tudor has been honoured at Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual Volunteer Awards.
She has been presented with the charity’s national Douglas Macmillan Volunteer of the Year Award beating volunteers from across all the UK to get the trophy.
The Douglas Macmillan Award, named after Macmillan’s founder, was given to Sonia in recognition of her commitment to promoting Macmillan and having a significant impact whilst doing so.
Readers will remember that Sonia astonished everyone, including perhaps herself, by running 50 miles around the Arrow Valley Lake on her 50th birthday in August last year.
The award is given to volunteers who used their influence to make a significant impact in their local area – for example, through fundraising.
Sonia of course has also made a significant effort to engage with the community to inform others about Macmillan by promoting services through fundraising and other activities.
She said: ‘I was absolutely speechless when I found out about the award and then I cried like a baby.
“To have won the regional one was incredible but when they told me I’d got the national one too I was blown away!
“I haven’t been a volunteer with Macmillan for 18 years because of awards or recognition, so to be honoured in this way is truly humbling!
“I hope my parents are looking down proudly at their daughter!
“It’s a huge honour and I’m absolutely delighted!”
Sonia chose to volunteer with Macmillan when she saw the incredible level of care given to her mum and dad when they were in turn diagnosed with cancer.
Her mum died of bowel cancer in 2002 and her family were supported by the charity.
After her father sadly died of lung cancer in 2010, Sonia’s role as a Macmillan volunteer broadened.
She is now a fundraising, practical and emotional support volunteer, forum volunteer, community volunteer and secretary of her local committee.
Every year, she runs multiple marathons and fun runs for Macmillan, and she completed her 50 miles on her 50th birthday in just under nine hours raising more than £3,000 in the process.
As a 1-2-1 support volunteer with Worcester Volunteer Buddies, her speciality is end of life support, where she uses her skills and experience to help the family come to terms with what is happening.
Niki Cooper, volunteering services co-ordinator who nominated Sonia for the award, said: “I have never met anyone before who is so passionate about Macmillan and the support we can provide – I think if you cut Sonia she would bleed green.
“Being her volunteer coordinator is an absolute pleasure – she is such an amazing volunteer who will do whatever she can to support the person she is with.”
Although face to face volunteering has currently been paused, there are still a number of ways people can volunteer for Macmillan to support those living with cancer.
To find out more visit www.macmillan.org.uk/volunteer or email: [email protected].
