Photo opportunity: 5.45pm on Wednesday 13 June at Moreton Hall Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds. The Dr Damian Kershaw award is presented and volunteers from West Suffolk Hospital receive long service awards.

Dedicated volunteers who give up their free time to serve patients, visitors and staff at West Suffolk Hospital will be thanked for their efforts at a special awards ceremony next week.

Wednesday’s (13 June) event has been arranged to thank the volunteers for the time they spend supporting the trust, which in the past year came to more than 35,500 hours. They help out in a huge variety of ways, from helping on wards at mealtimes and welcoming patients and visitors to fundraising through the Friends shop and stalls or helping maintain the hospital’s gardens.

Everyone who attends will be able to enjoy tea and cakes as a token of appreciation. In addition, 41 volunteers who have together clocked up nearly 500 years at the hospital will receive long service awards in recognition of their dedication.

During the afternoon, the Dr Damian Kershaw award will also be presented to a young volunteer heading for a career in healthcare. This special award is named after Dr Kershaw, who volunteered at the hospital in the late 1980s and went on to have a successful career but sadly died suddenly aged 28.

It will be presented by Dr Kershaw’s mother Jackie to 17-year-old Rebecca Wagner, of Barton Mills, who has volunteered on wards since February 2011.

Mrs Kershaw said: “On meeting this year’s applicants for the award, it was reassuring to know that the quality of these young volunteers remains impressive. It was obvious that volunteering at the hospital has enhanced their lives in numerous ways and, most importantly, has helped them to clarify their choice of a medical career. This year’s winner displayed the determination and grit needed to pursue her aim to become a doctor. Both she and the other applicants deserve every success.”

Linda Murrell, voluntary services manager at the hospital, said: “We really enjoy holding this annual awards ceremony. It gives us the perfect opportunity to recognise the very valuable contribution our volunteers make and thank them for their time and loyal support.  

“We are always delighted to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer in the hospital, and have a wide variety of opportunities available. I’d encourage anyone who wants to know more to get in touch.”

Anyone interested in volunteering at the hospital should telephone 01284 713169 or 713206.