A long serving Macmillan volunteer has bowed out in style after two decades of fundraising.
Tricia Heard organised her last event this week for the cause with a fashion show in West Hill Village Hall.
Models walked down the catwalk in clothing provided by Chapter boutique in Sidmouth to boost the cancer charity and the West Hill Royal British Legion club appeal.
The West Hill resident first began supporting Macmillan when she worked as a nurse in Somerset and continued her work when she moved to Sidmouth.
Through her work she has held a number of successful charity lunches, attracting big names such as Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith and Desmond Kelly OBE.
Tricia said: “It is just the right time. It was a way for me to meet people. I was used to chairing committee and I felt I should promote Macmillans as much as I could. We had an event practically every month.”
Tricia then stood as the charity’s area chairman for three years and liaised with staff, head office and fundraising committees across Devon. During her time in post, she saw local groups across Devon raise £250,000 in just one year for Macmillan.
Her passion for the charity saw her continue to climb further up the volunteer ladder to become representative for the South West on the charity’s UK forum between 2013 and 2016.
Tricia said: “ Most people are not aware that side is open to volunteers, having said that it was open to people that wanted that but not everybody wants that level of volunteering.”
In recognition for her service the charity presented her with the Douglas Macmillan award and in January this year went to Buckingham Palace as a thank-you for her contribution.
Ruth Leonard, head of volunteering development at Macmillan, said: “Tricia has been a long standing and committed supporter of Macmillan throughout the year.
“I first met Tricia when she joined a staff and volunteer panel which was set up to ensure a shared and consistent view of volunteering across the organisation – exploring new engagement methods such as a volunteer newsletter and our hugely successful conference. Tricia’s views were invaluable – having taken on the responsibility for writing a local newsletter to keep volunteers in the South West updated.”
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