Page 8 - link magazine

8 The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com

Knitware bidder doubles donation
An online auction for a knitted nativity scene and a giant winter doll
has raised £134 for Age Concern Swindon.
The buyer from Berkshire was so pleased with the unique craftwork
that she decided to double her bid to support Age Concern.
Swindon online shop Let Us Auction It sold the items commission
free after being approached by The Link to help.
Age Concern Swindon still has to raise at least £50,000 by the end of
March to sustain this year’s level of service.
If you’re planning a Spring clean, go to www.letusauctionit.co.uk

Globetrotting senior shows
retirement is time for adventures
When Mary Morgan of Grange Park declares that it’s a full-time job
being her, it’s something of an understatement.
Since leaving work 20 years ago
she has travelled the world as a vol-
unteer and shows no sign of taking
things easy. Mary, right, declines to
declare her age but is very obvi-
ously young at heart.
Born in Coventry, where she
witnessed the devastating bomb-
ing of the city during the war, Mary
had a varied and exciting working
life. She spent time in Canada and
on returning to the UK worked at
the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry.
In 1971, she came to Swindon as
the Wyvern’s first publicity officer
and organised the Queen’s visit to
open the theatre later that year.
She then became the first com-
munity fundraiser for the Pros- tion and food are usually inexpen-
pect Foundation 25 years ago when sive. There’s no need for special
www.hairworks.uk.com it consisted of one nurse and an qualifications, just the desire to be
administrator in one room. useful.
Inspired by a meeting with “Use your time well and wisely
Mother Teresa, Mary took up a job and don’t think retirement is the
with Help the Aged setting up an end,” she advises. “You get as
office in Canada and then New York. much out of it as you put in.”
Little wonder that she didn’t Mary is happy to speak to com-
want to stop. “I didn’t particularly munity groups about her experi-
want to retire. I felt I wanted to ences, or talk to anybody looking
keep doing things. By the time you for retirement inspiration. To book
get to retirement age, you have a her, call The Link on 608840 or mail:
lot of skills,” she said. [email protected]
Mary bought a book called Volun-
teer Vacations by Bill McMillon and Stuff your face
arranged her first trip which took
her to Haiti. Since then, volunteer- for charity
ing has become a way of life. Saturday 10 March is VSO’s Big
Her travels took her to the Mexi- Curry Night and curry lovers all
can Jungle in 2002 with a medical over the country will be sitting
team from Ohio, working with down, standing up, staying mild
Mayan doctors. She was in the right and getting hot to raise funds for
place to help because a hurricane the international development
struck shortly after she arrived. charity’s work in some of the
More recently she has been world’s poorest countries.
working with children in the Phil- The charity, which works
ippines and the Smokey Moun- through professional volunteers,
tains of Tennessee. Some projects is asking curry enthusiasts from all
are closer to home, and later this over the UK to invite their friends
year she will be helping out at a round and cook up a ‘curry for a
monkey sanctuary in Cornwall. cause.’
“You can’t always give money A VSO’s Big Curry Night
but you can give your time,” said fundraising pack can be found at:
Mary. “There’s so much that can www.vso.org.uk/curry
be done to help other people. I’ve All of the money raised by ‘Big
made so many friends that I Curry Night’ will be used to sup-
wouldn’t ever have met other- port VSO’s work with disadvan-
wise.” taged communities and helping
Volunteers are expected to pay people build a better life for their
their own way but accommoda- families.
www.yoursolution.uk.com

1 March 07 8 15/2/07, 1:45 pm