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Spotlight on a volunteer... Kay Martin

Hospice would like to honour a special volunteer for Volunteer Awareness Week...

Kay Martin has just celebrated her 90th birthday, and when most people are well and truly retired, she still works two shifts per week volunteering in our warehouse in Forrest Hill, and the Takapuna shop. Shortly after her husband passed away 5 years ago, Kay responded to an advert in the paper looking for fit volunteers and almost immediately started working at the Takapuna shop. When volunteers were being sought for our warehouse, she held her hand up to work there as well. Kay really enjoys all the tasks she undertakes and especially serving customers and having a good laugh with her workmates. She also occasionally fills in when they are short staffed, but says "one must realise one's limitations!" Volunteering is very satisfying according to Kay, helping others certainly gives the feel good factor.

Kay believes the secret to her maintaining good health is to keep busy, active and stimulated, and she is clearly a testament to this theory. Along with her volunteer shifts, she finished her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature as a very adult student, teaches Yoga to a class at her retirement village, goes to the gym regularly, is learning to speak Maori and buzzes around visiting friends and family in her wee car. She still has plenty of things to achieve before she calls it a day! Kay says her wellness is due to a lot of good luck, doing Yoga and laughing a lot.

Kay made a fabulous contribution to Hospice on her 90th. She said "it's a hell of a struggle deciding what to buy old people – we are getting rid of things, not adding to the collection, and you get tired of getting more hand cream and soap!"

On her invitations she asked that in lieu of gifts for her, could people send a donation to Hospice. She even included a form designed by Hospice for people to use.

Kay is our oldest volunteer, but has no intention of quitting yet. We are so grateful that this remarkable women still wants to give of her time to Hospice.

Thank you Kay.