Kathy Webb, who for the last five years has given up her free time to help Rosemere Cancer Foundation, has been chosen as the charity’s 2020 East Lancs volunteer of the year.

Kathy began volunteering when she retired from her job with a local holiday cottage company. Pre the coronavirus pandemic, she would have been presented with her award at a special spring thank you evening for all volunteers and supporters but instead, the charity’s chief officer Dan Hill and East Lancs fundraising co-ordinator Louise Grant dropped it round to the home she shares with husband Paul.

It was Paul, an independent corporate finance broker, who some 15 years ago first introduced Kathy to Rosemere Cancer Foundation. He enrolled himself and Kathy on a 10 miles, 10 pubs sponsored walk in aid of the charity that he learned of at a business networking event. Kathy said: “We had a great day so took part in other fundraising events and that eventually led to me helping with supermarket collections, marshalling and lots of other things.

“On the one hand, it’s been a lot of fun and on the other, you feel very privileged when former or current cancer patients, who obviously know all about Rosemere Cancer Foundation’s work, see you at a collection or event and open up to you about their cancer journey.”

In selecting Kathy to receive the award, Louise said: “Kathy is a friendly face, who gets along with everyone. She takes a genuine interest in those she meets and has been an invaluable help to me. I don’t think Kathy actually realises how much support and time that she, and frequently Paul too, gives to Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

“Not only does Kathy help at events and rally friends and neighbours into donating raffle and tombola prizes, she will provide admin support, sell Christmas cards and generally do all she can to spread word of Rosemere Cancer Foundation and the work it does.”

Away from her voluntary work, Kathy, who has two adult daughters with Paul that live in Leeds and Doncaster, enjoys tai chi and supporting the community cafes at Read Village Hall and Simonstone Constitutional Club. In September, she and Paul will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world class cancer treatments and services to cancer patients from throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria being treated at Rosemere Cancer Centre, Lancashire and South Cumbria’s specialist regional cancer treatment and radiotherapy centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local hospital cancer units across the two counties, including those at Burnley General Teaching and the Royal Blackburn Hospitals.

The charity funds cutting-edge equipment, clinical research, staff training and innovative services and initiatives that the NHS cannot afford in order to make patients’ cancer journey more effective, comfortable and stress-free. For further information on its work, including how to make a donation, visit www.rosemere.org.uk