31/10/12………Haddenham woman is ‘top volunteer’
A dedicated volunteer from Haddenham is the winner of a special national award recognising her dedication to a charity.
Fiona Daniels won the Chief Executive?s Special Recognition Award at the Specsavers Hearing Dog Awards 2012 held in Central London on October 18, recognising her devotion to Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.
Fiona saw off competition from dozens of other contenders from across the country to be named as winner and was presented with the award by charity chief executive Michele Jennings and Hearing Dogs? patron HRH, The Princess Royal.
Fiona was named as a winner because of her enthusiasm and commitment to the Charity since she became a volunteer six years ago.
Throughout this period, Fiona has volunteered in a number of key charity roles including helping puppies learn basic obedience in the role of puppy socialiser, as a breeding scheme brood bitch holder as well as volunteering at many fundraising events across Buckinghamshire and beyond.
In recent months, Fiona carried on her volunteer duties despite facing her own battle with breast cancer, which required an operation and subsequent chemotherapy.
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary and since its launch in 1982, the Charity has created an incredible 1600 hearing dog partnerships, each giving greater levels of independence, confidence and companionship to the deaf person.
Michele Jennings said: ?The Specsavers Hearing Dog Awards 2012 was not only be a chance to celebrate the Charity?s incredible, life-changing work but it was also an opportunity to highlight some of the wonderful personal stories deaf people who have received our hearing dogs have to tell.
?We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to the event in what is her 20th year as Patron of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. All hearing dog partnerships help to alleviate the loneliness, stress and anxiety that hearing loss can often bring. For 30 years, we have been changing the lives of deaf people right across the UK and it is fantastic to showcase just some of the partnerships we have created with these awards.”
As well as the strong emotional support they offer, hearing dogs transform deaf people?s lives by alerting them to sounds and danger signals such as the alarm clock, doorbell and smoke alarm in the home, at work and in public buildings.
PHOTO; Fiona Daniels with her award.
About Hearing Dogs for Deaf People:
Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a registered charity that creates life-changing partnerships between deaf people and hearing dogs. Hearing dogs are trained to alert deaf people to household sounds and danger signals such as the alarm clock, doorbell and smoke alarm ? providing life-changing independence, confidence and companionship. The Charity will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2012.
Since its inception in 1982, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People have placed more than 1,600 hearing dogs. There are currently 750 working hearing dogs in the UK.
Registered charity in England and Wales no: 293358 and in Scotland SC040486
Royal Patron HRH The Princess Royal
About Specsavers Hearing Centres
Specsavers Hearing Centres has supported Hearing Dogs for Deaf People for the past five years and since 2006 the company has generously donated thousands of pounds through many fundraising initiatives and corporate donations.
In recent years, the company has also co-ordinated its own event ? the Specsavers Sound Barrier Star Awards ? which recognises deaf and hard of hearing people?s remarkable achievements. This is now in its third year and is fronted by actress Charlene Tilton, ambassador for the awards.
