Volunteer spotlight: Cathy Clarke

Volunteer spotlight: Cathy Clarke

06 June 2017

“Charing Cross Hospital is somewhere that’s local to me and I wanted to give back to the community,” she said. “I’ve always been involved with caring of some type or another and I really just wanted to be able to continue to do that.”

“I just love being able to interact with people, to hopefully make things a little bit easier for them when they come in. It can be quite a daunting thing when you’re visiting an oncologist so just by offering them tea and coffee, welcoming them and just being there you can just make it easier for them.”

Cathy has volunteered with the charity for the last eight years and she’s seen first-hand what a difference they make.

“I think they can ease the patient’s journey through the hospital. It’s just being there as a welcome, someone who can break down some of the barriers because hospital visits can be very daunting. We smile and show people that we’re all human, we’re all here for one purpose only and that’s to look after those that need the support and care we can give.”

Cathy’s own passion and willingness to help led to her being nominated for a Make a Difference award, which she received earlier in the year. “I feel hugely humbled and very embarrassed,” she said.

Lynda Montgomery, the Clerical Officer who nominated her, said: “She’s an amazing individual. She always walks round with a smile and goes that extra mile. Although Cathy volunteers once a week, her caring presence brings warmth and brightens up our sometimes emotional and stressful oncology clinic. She’s a phenomenal lady with a heart of gold.”

If you’d like to get involved or find out more about volunteering with the charity, visit our volunteering page.