VOLUNTEERS who have given a combined total of 140 years of service to collecting donations for Red Cross Week were last week honoured with certificates of appreciation. Eleven members of the Okehampton group of the British Red Cross were presented with the certificates last Wednesday to mark their vital role in the charity's work. Each May, local volunteers collect donations for Red Cross Week, an average of between £800 to £1,000 is collected each year in Okehampton. Mrs Dot Matthews, who chairs the Devon Red Cross Volunteer Council told the volunteers: 'The money you collect is put to good use, helping vulnerable people.' Mrs Matthews said the British Red Cross helped people in a variety of ways, including providing immediate practical help to people in the aftermath of house fires, or severe flooding and providing first aid cover at public events. Mrs Matthews said another important way the Red Cross helped people was by operating a skin camouflage service which helped those with disfiguring blemishes. 'This is an amazing service. People say it has absolutely changed their life around. It gives them the confidence to go out and quite literally face the world,' she said. She added: 'We also have a good schools programme running at the moment, where we go into schools and teach young children very simple life-saving skills, like simple resuscitation and the recovery position.' Mrs Matthews presented the awards to the volunteers with the assistance of the Rt Hon Mrs Sarah Lopes, president of Devon Red Cross. Mrs Wendy Mitchell, co-ordinator of Red Cross Week in Okehampton, congratulated the volunteers on their superb dedication in supporting the charity. 'I think we will all agree that fundraising is not an easy task, but without people like you, there would not be a Red Cross,' she said. Joan Pauley, who hosted the presentation, said the Red Cross had been involved in many different aspects of life in the local area. Miss Pauley said: 'We have done a lot of service in Okehampton; assisting at the hospital, providing standby ambulance cover and going whizzing off all over the county, helping at the Okehampton half-marathon and the Army even called us up to the camp when Ten Tors was hit by the worst weather it had ever known, and we provided comfort for those who had to be evacuated off the moor.' Miss Pauley said there had been a Red Cross presence in Okehampton since 1913, and possibly even earlier. Receiving certificates to mark between 12 and 16 years collecting for Red Cross Week in Okehampton were: Mr Martin Bessall, Mr Alan Horn, Miss Ivy Horn, Mrs Ruth Maile, Mrs Ann Sage and Mrs Jean Williams. Also awarded certificates of appreciation but unable to collect them on the day were Mrs Margaret Mortimore, Mrs Janet Vernon, Mr Charles Westlake and Mrs Ann Radnor. Mrs Jackie Adcock also received an award in recognition of having organised the Red Cross medical equipment loan service in Okehampton for more than nine years. Long service medal presentation were also made to other members of the Red Cross organisation in Okehampton. Mrs Dawn Bourne was recognised with a 30 year service medal, Mrs Jeanette Baker was awarded a 25 year service medal and Mrs Wendy Mitchell was the recipient of a 20 year service medal.
