Edie is 90 years old and still volunteering

2nd November 2020

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Submitted by: Antoinette Webber, Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Trust

Edie Lay is one in an army of volunteers supporting our Sunflower Suite chemotherapy ward. Our cancer services and refreshment trolley volunteers provide a much needed cuppa and chat for worried patients, providing reassurance and offering support when it is needed. All volunteers in this role have a real impact on people when they need it most, and all of the volunteers bring their life experience and a very different personal skill set.

What makes Edie so special is that she has been volunteering two days a week since she retired 30 years ago and is now 90 years old. Her motivation to volunteer, like many others, is to say thank you. Her story is powerful and inspirational as she volunteered following the death, from breast cancer, of her only child Christine aged just 39. Edie takes her role as a volunteer very seriously, missing out on volunteer thank you events such as day trips or thank you parties if they fall on a day she is volunteering. She will say that "she couldn't attend as her patients need her.”

When interviewed in 2018 for our special long-serving awards, Edie said "I spend time talking to the patients, especially those who don’t have anyone with them, which I really enjoy. I hadn’t had much experience of hospitals before, so it wasn’t where I was planning to volunteer, then my daughter Christine had breast cancer and was cared for at Oldchurch Hospital. They looked after her so well and the staff were so kind that it was decided for me. And because of Christine, I’ve always volunteered helping cancer patients. Christine would be proud, it’s her legacy.”

Edie has given the NHS 3,120 days, equalling more than 15,600 hours, in all weather, irrespective of what she may be dealing with in her private life. In her role she provides a much needed and valued service to worried and anxious patients and their friends and family, a cuppa and a chat is more often all a patient needs when they are worried. Edie will sit and talk to patients, sharing laughs, tears, stories of hope or just sit with someone so they are not alone.

Quotes from other volunteers:

“I love her to bits. She’s been so supportive of me and showed me the ropes.”

“She’s lovely to work with as she’s so conscientious and is always helping people.”

“Edie is always so kind and compassionate at work. Sometimes patients are upset and Edie will always go and sit with them and talk.”

“When she had a very difficult situation at home and I felt she should have been at home with her family. I asked, “What are you doing here?” and she floored me when she answered. “I needed to be with my friends and I feel very loved in this hospital.””

“Always asks how you are and shows love and respect to all staff, volunteers and patients.”

“I think she is a wonderful inspiration to us all. Edie is not my colleague, she’s my friend.”

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