Spa volunteers bid for Women of Year title (From Droitwich Advertiser)

Spa volunteers bid for Women of Year title

11:19am Thursday 2nd July 2009

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TWO caring Spa women have been put forward for Worcestershire Women of the Year honours for their voluntary work.

Droitwich residents Samantha Spencer and Jeannie Young will contest the voluntary award category of the annual competition, which will be held on Saturday, July 11.

The nominations were made in a bid to secure the title and the judging panel has been busy over several months in the difficult task of whittling down the entries to the final shortlist.

The finalists are competing for the titles in business, achievement, and voluntary categories. The winners will be announced and honoured at a prestigious lunch in aid of St Richard’s Hospice at King’s School, Worcester.

Fifteen-year-old Samantha Spencer is the youngest finalist in Worcestershire Women of the Year history. She was chosen for her outstanding community work across a wide spectrum including fundraising, sport, helping the elderly and local issues. Samantha attends Droitwich Spa High School.

Recently Samantha received a good citizen award and is the Lions International Young Ambassador for the Midlands. Her charities include Sport Relief, Children in Need, Diabetes UK, Help the Aged, St Richard’s Hospice, Leukemia Care Association and many more.

She will be up against Jeannie Young, from Tibberton, near Droitwich, who was one of the founders and a driving force behind the success of St Richard’s Hospice.

She has given over two decades of dedicated service to St Richard’s Hospice and was chairman of the board of governors for six years.

Having trained as a Midwife in 1960, Jeannie has also spent time for St Richard’s over the years as a bath nurse, chiropodist, home care sitter and fundraiser as well as supporting thousands of events for the charity.

Mrs Young continues to offer her expertise and time as a volunteer to St Richard’s.

Recently Jeannie has chaired a group to put together a book to celebrate the hospice’s 25th anniversary, called From Dream to Reality by Marianne Rankin. St Richard’s Hospice is celebrating 25 years of care this year.

There are still a few tickets available at £49 per head for the ceremony, which includes a three course lunch, wine or soft drink on arrival. For information and to reserve event tickets please contact Jill Perkins on 01886 888 266 or email: jill.perkins@messages.co.uk

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