5 Jun 2022 Community

Our Volunteers Stories- Brian and Heather

Husband and wife team Brian and Heather have been volunteering for The Kirkwood for the last decade. They also have two beautiful helpers with them in the form of therapy dogs Asher and Ruby who look to help make patients feel comfortable at every opportunity. 

Heather has had first hand treatment from The Kirkwood, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. After receiving treatment and support from The Kirkwood, the couple decided to volunteer for the charity.  

Brian commented: "I started volunteering for The Kirkwood in 2014 after my wife Heather had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Fortunately the outcome has been positive and the care she received from The Kirkwood team was second to none. Following her treatment and recovery she volunteered for the charity and I followed in 2014 by being a driver.  

"I used to go out and bring patients to the site in Dalton for support and therapy sessions and then take them back home. I absolutely loved doing it, there were lots of characters you got to know.  

"Most of the people I drove understood what The Kirkwood was about, that it is more than just a building where people die. If someone didn't know about the other services we offer, I was able to explain things to them and I felt comfortable and confident to do that."  

On the support she was given Heather added: "I used the support and therapy support mechanism when I was recovering. Later on I started doing yoga here when that was offered which was brilliant.  

"I was diagnosed in 2008 initially and then again in 2013, but that turned out to be a false diagnosis the second time around thankfully. The Kirkwood really improved my life and helped to support me at every step, they'd always go that extra mile for you.  

"Coming to support and therapy gave me the strength to go back to work. I was a teacher and luckily I could pick and choose my days so I could still come to get support with The Kirkwood.  

"I was still receiving treatment whilst being a volunteer myself. It was very therapeutic for me to be able to give something back to the charity that had helped me."  

Brian and Heather own two utterly amazing and beautiful therapy dogs called Asher and Ruby and Heather says they really have a fantastic effect on the patients.  

She said: "Both dogs are special, they are so loving, the patients like to stroke them. It has helped in situations where a family member might have lost a relative that day and they've said stroking the dog was just the thing they needed.  

"Asher has just recently qualified and Ruby will be retiring in the next few years, The Kirkwood is their second home; they love being here and helping where they can."