“I Wanted to Volunteer Until I was 90!”
26 Feb 2021
88-year-old, Ada Rushworth had been volunteering at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice for over 12 years when Covid hit. Her plans to finish volunteering at the age of 90, were foiled by the pandemic which fast-tracked her retirement.
Ada first started volunteering after her husband, Barry, who was cared for at Dr Kershaw’s sadly passed away, 13 years ago.
Now a former Hospice volunteer, Ada explains: “After Barry died, I wanted to keep busy and rang the Hospice about volunteering. Within the same week, I was doing two shifts at the Lees Hospice shop, and I never looked back.”
When Ada’s youngest daughter died suddenly in 2018, volunteering at the shop was a huge form of support to her. Ada said: “The kindness and support from the Hospice shop staff and fellow volunteers, along with keeping busy by still volunteering helped with my grief. Volunteering for Dr Kershaw’s Hospice is the best thing you can do if you have time. It’s hard work but I loved every minute of it, and would have been volunteering until my 90th birthday, if not for Covid.”
Ann Taylor, the Hospice’s Lees Shop Manager added: “Even now that Ada has retired, she is still supporting the Hospice by bringing in donations and at Christmas time helped to sell our cards and calendars to family and friends. She would still be on the till at 90 if the pandemic hadn’t hit!”
To find out more about volunteering opportunities contact the Hospice on 0161 624 2727 or volunteerdept@drkh.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1105924
Dr Kershaw’s Hospice
Turf Lane, Royton, Oldham OL2 6EU
phone: (0161) 624 2727