ANNA Brabbs has only been volunteering with Marie Curie for a short time but her enthusiasm and willingness to help has been an inspiration to others at the charity.

Marie Curie Community Fundraiser, Natalie Atherley has admired Anna’s dedication from the start and has nominated her for The Press’s Charity Fundraiser of the Year award.

She said: “I met Anna following her interview just after Christmas when she applied for Collection Coordinator. She’s been a rock in supporting our Great Daffodil Appeal by organising many collections across Pocklington and York as well as standing and collecting herself”.

As well as organising and taking collections Anna has also encouraged family and friends to help too and built up good relationships with all the other volunteers.

For charities like Marie Curie, having dedicated volunteers to lend a hand is extremely beneficial.

Natalie said: “Having people like Anna helping out the charity is really important. We just wouldn’t be able to do the things we do without people like her.

“In our most recent daffodil appeal we made 200 collections. If it wasn’t for Anna we might have had to cancel the collections.

“Anna is always keen to do more and is hopefully going to be joining one of our Fundraising Groups once the Great Daffodil Appeal has finished so that she can continue her fundraising throughout the year”.

When Anna joins one of the charities’ fundraising groups she will gain an official role in organising collections days and fundraising events like the Marie Curie tea parties.

Charity Fundraiser of the Year is one of 13 categories in The Press’s Community Pride awards, which honour heroes of York whose hard work and selfless dedication make the city a better place for everyone.

The category is sponsored by Linley and Simpson and recognises an individual who uses their imagination and hard work to raise money for good causes.

The awards are run by The Press together with the City of York Council and sponsored by Benenden Health, and we need to hear about your community heroes – the people who put others before themselves and dedicate time and effort to good causes.

For more information or to make a nomination go to: yorkpress.co.uk/pride.

Three finalists from each category will be invited to the awards ceremony at York Racecourse in October, when the winners will be revealed.