A woman dedicated to helping people with dementia and raising awareness of the condition has been nominated for a Press Community Pride Award for her voluntary work.
Dr Susie Mackenzie set up a singing class for people with dementia and their relatives two years ago to help them make new friends, build their confidence and have some vital relaxation time singing their favourite songs.
She looked after her mother, who had the condition, up until her death three years ago.
Dr Mackenzie, 49, of Clifton, has since continued working with the Alzheimer’s Society to create the Singing For The Brain group and runs it for three hours every Monday in Martyrs Hall, York, alongside her job as an educational psychologist.
She said: “Hearing about the nomination completely brightened up my day. The group is so joyful and holding the group on a Monday is a cheery way to start the week.”
Gill Myers, from the Alzheimer’s Society, nominated Dr Mackenzie for the Volunteer Of The Year award, praising her for creating a “warm, friendly atmosphere”.
In her nomination she wrote: “No birthdays or special occasions are forgotten and everyone is included and thought of in some way.
“Feedback from the group always mentions the laughter that the group generates.”
Also nominated for the Volunteer Of The Year award is Girl Guide leader Diane Main.
Miss Main, of Olympian Court, York, leads Southlands Guides, organising day trips and other activities for a group of 24 Guides and three young leaders.
She said: “I am just so gobsmacked and it is really very humbling. You just do what you do because you enjoy doing it, you don’t expect to get any recognition from it, so it was a really nice surprise.”
Having led the group for 13 years, she said she was touched that Nicki and Graham Law, the parents of two of the Guides in her group, had written in to nominate her.
In the nomination they said: “Diane is an amazing, innovative guide leader. She is always jolly and gives freely her own time organising sleepovers and day trips at weekends.
“She is overall an amazing woman and all the Guides love her.”
The Community Pride Awards are run by The Press in partnership with City of York Council. The principal sponsor is Benenden Health.
To nominate online, visit yorkpress.co.uk/pride
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here