Inspiring resilience: Samantha makes a new start from volunteering
In her 50s and living in Darlington, Samantha's life took an unexpected turn seven years ago when a fall resulted in complications and amputation.
Samantha was also born with Spina Bifida and is eager to impart the valuable lesson that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. Since her accident, volunteering has become an avenue for both personal fulfilment and giving back.
Instead of giving up, Samantha was determined not to let it prevent her navigating life with grace and purpose.
Despite facing physical limitations, she refuses to be defined by disability. Instead, she embraces each day with a contagious enthusiasm, getting creative with crafts, building community connections through her volunteer fundraising at the hospital and work with young people in the town.
“I remember when I had my accident, everyone was devastated. But we adapt to what we’re given – that’s how I see it, adaptability not disability. If you don’t, you crumble and end up in a corner and I was determined not to do that.
“I had 24 hours to live and if they hadn’t amputated, I wouldn’t have survived. After my amputations the thing I found the most difficult was the outside world’s perception. It changes how you feel. I didn’t want to change how I felt. I want to live life like there is a tomorrow – because the infections after my fall meant there almost wasn’t one.”
From fundraising with the public to lending a listening ear to hospital patients, Samantha’s dedication is a huge asset to the charity.
“I thrive and feel so much better being with people and letting them ask questions about what happened and answering as honestly as I can. You can’t let things finish you. I love being part of the community and fit in where I can. It’s important to me to help and work alongside other people.”
Samatha describes how she became a volunteer:
“After my accident I was visiting the hospital shop and saw a volunteer fundraising outside. I would see her whenever I would go in and started talking to her. One week, Pat Chambers from the charity team came down and asked me if I would consider volunteering.
“I wanted to give back. To make me feel better but also to make other people who may have had bad experiences realise that life is for living. If I can help someone else to do that, so much the better.”
Meeting new people and making friends is as important to her as feeling part of a team and having an opinion.
“I have a lot of friends at the hospital because of the volunteering – Life is good.
“I feel I have grown and found out who I am. When there is a physical disability people assume that you have a mental disability too. The ‘does she take sugar syndrome’ I call it. People aren’t sure if you can speak. Doing this gives me a voice and helps me be seen and heard.
“The volunteering has also given me the opportunity to come up with ideas for fundraising. It’s very gratifying to see them through with support from the team.
“In terms of the commitment, I do two days a week. We have a table inside the hospital with tombola, raffles, and games. People can play, win a prize, and go away happy.”
One the benefits of giving her time she says:
“It’s given me structure – I know on those days I will be volunteering for a few hours and I fit everything else around that. It’s about the volunteering but its also about me building that confidence and security and being able to move forward.
“Our fundraising provides comfortable, safe hospital surroundings and the opportunity for the best treatments and care for local people. So, everybody wins.”
For anyone thinking of volunteering Samantha has this advice:
“You can volunteer in whatever way suits you. You can help raise awareness, fundraise or help with admin and office work. There’s always something you can do to help a charity. It doesn’t have to take up all your time.
The charity could benefit from your skills, enthusiasm, and time. With a small team it’s difficult to do everything we’d like to. More volunteers gives us the opportunity to raise funds faster to get what’s needed and impact more patients.”
