A TEENAGER who spends every Monday morning working free for charity was among those celebrated at a special event.

Hannah Russell, 17, has been volunteering weekly at Dorchester’s Weldmar Hospicecare Trust’s charity shop for the past six months.

The Thomas Hardye sixth former, who fits the job around her A-level studies, was presented with a bouquet of flowers at a coffee morning at the Joseph Weld Hospice.

She was among 87 retail, fundraising and hospice volunteers who attended the event, which coincided with national Volunteers Week.

Hannah said: “The Dorchester shop has a great atmosphere, it’s always warm and we always get real characters in the shop.

“My nan used to work in a charity shop and it’s really nice to work there and meet a lot of different people.”

She added: “Customers say it’s nice to see a young volunteer.

“I love working there and get a really nice feeling afterwards.”

Audrey Kelly was celebrated in honour of being Weldmar’s ‘most senior volunteer’.

The 92-year-old has worked at the Lyme Regis charity shop since it opened in 1996. Audrey said: “It’s the Harrods of Lyme.

“Every day of my life I’ve loved it, we have a lot of holiday people in and they’re all happy.

“I’m very proud of our shop.”

Volunteer Cindy Chant, of Cattistock, was also presented with a bouquet, to mark her 70th birthday.

Caroline Munslow, volunteer services manager for Weldmar, said they had over 600 volunteers working across Dorset and were always pleased to welcome more.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Caroline on 01305 756930, enquire at a Weldmar shop, or visit www.weld-hospice.org.uk

Show them you care

THE Show Them You Care campaign has raised £4,258.20 since the appeal was launched on February 28 but there is a long way to go to hit the £60,000 target needed to pay for a community nurse for a year.

All the money will be used to fund a nurse for a year and pay for all of their support and expenses.

Crucially, it would mean even more patients and their families receiving all the support they need, when they need it most.

Donate by visiting webpage www.justgiving.com/weldmarnurse Send cheques payable to ‘The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust’ to the Dorset Echo offices at Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD.