A Winchester woman who campaigns tirelessly for better diabetes services across the South East has won a volunteering award from leading charity Diabetes UK.
Former city banker Sally Oxlade was presented with the Supporting Diabetes UK award in recognition of her hard work, at the charity’s regional Inspire Awards, held in Epsom.
Sally worked in finance for 40 years advising and selling fixed income products to institutions in both London and Scandinavia and was one of the first female members of the London Stock Exchange. She was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 55 after contracting meningitis and septicaemia. After retiring she decided she wanted to use her time to help raise awareness of diabetes and help support people with the condition and joined Diabetes UK as a full-time volunteer.
Raising Awareness
Sally, aged 67, said: “I’m honoured to receive this award. Volunteering for Diabetes UK gives me the opportunity to raise awareness and share valuable information. I am passionate that diabetes should be better understood and more empathy is therefore created. I’m proudest of the work I’ve done locally to help and energise the Winchester and Eastleigh support group. I’m happy my promotional efforts and local networking has helped the group re-establish itself in the local community so that its valuable work can continue.”
Jill Steaton, Regional Manager at Diabetes UK in the South East, said: “Sally is a marvel. She is always there to help us with whatever needs doing. A dedicated volunteer, we are lucky to have her expertise. Sally is a key part of the team and her work with local groups in Winchester, Eastbourne and Petersfield, just to name a few, has really had a positive impact.
Inspire Awards
“Through our Inspire Awards we thank our hard working volunteers, like Sally, for their contributions and highlight the positive difference their work has made to the lives of people who are living with diabetes.
“There are more than 4.5 million people with diabetes, and our dedicated volunteers help them to manage their condition, campaign to improve the quality of care available to them, fundraise for pioneering research and work to stem the rising tide of diabetes. Our volunteers are out there working hard in the community day in and day out. Our much-needed work wouldn’t be possible without their incredible support and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all of our volunteers who make an enormous difference through their support.”
The Inspire Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding individuals as well as group volunteer efforts. The winners are chosen by judging panels across the UK and are presented with their award at the regional and national Make a Difference conferences held in 2017. The winners of these awards are then placed in a pool to be judged for the UK-wide Inspire Awards which will be presented in summer 2017.
