Two of our amazing volunteers have accumulated an impressive 39 years of volunteering between them at Good Hope Hospital.
Vera McKenzie and Vera Holley – ‘Volunteer Veras’– are 91 and 87 years old and both work at Good Hope Hospital for one day a week.
Vera McKenzie works in the Treatment Centre on Wednesdays, welcoming and directing patients and visitors to their appointments. She’s volunteered for the hospital for 17 years and recently celebrated her 91st birthday. Vera is mum to three children, five grandchildren and a great-grandchild, who is named after her late husband Daniel. Vera lives in New Oscott with her daughter and enjoys a glass of brandy and ballroom dancing with her friends every Friday night.
Vera said: “I love volunteering. It gets me out of the house and keeps me busy. I will volunteer until I can’t do it anymore. I don’t want to sit around all day, I want to keep my mind and body active.”
Vera Holley has worked as a volunteer for the hospital for 22 years and worked as an auxiliary nurse at hospitals across the region since she left school. She has helped raise tens of thousands of pounds which have provided vital equipment and items for patient comfort and care. She lives in Walmley, has three children, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her daughter is a nurse and her granddaughter is training to be a nurse.
Vera said: “I really enjoy volunteering and I do it as often as I can. I broke my leg last year and I was back doing it again as soon as I was allowed – I just had to do a seated role for a while.”
One of their fellow Good Hope Hospital volunteers said: “The Veras are inspirational. Their enthusiasm and kindness is infectious. They are brilliant ambassadors for volunteering at our hospitals. They are liked and respected by staff, fellow volunteers, patients and visitors alike. There is a saying that ‘Volunteering has been shown to boost mental and physical health, combat depression and help people live longer.’ Can’t argue with that when it comes to the two Veras can you?”
