Because she's lost so many loved ones to cancer, one local volunteer knew as soon as the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North opened on Nov. 1, 2012, she would support it.
"I wanted to be the first one to volunteer there," said Diana Myers. "Well, I wasn't the first one but I did get to volunteer right off the bat and the people just amaze me."
Myers has chosen to dedicate some of her weekly volunteer hours to driving cancer patients to the centre for much-needed treatment.
"It's heartbreaking at times but the patients are so amazing and so upbeat," said Myers of the experience. "It's given me a different outlook on life."
Myers volunteers with the Prince George Freemasons Volunteer Driver Program and donates four or five hours a week as she takes on an afternoon shift.
Myers, not quite comfortable tooting her own horn, hopes to put the call out for more volunteer drivers and dispatchers who are always needed for the driver program.
Besides driving cancer patients to their treatments and then back home, Myers has sat on the board for the Elder Citizens Recreation Association (ECRA) for five years. Meyers volunteers her time to several groups within the association and all money raised through those groups goes towards the operating costs of the centre.
Myers spent five years as a member of the catering team at ECRA and was a member of the Forever Young Chorus that puts on concerts at the centre and visits seniors homes to entertain residents. She is also a member of the Drama Club, that always needs more members, and puts on productions several times a year while being a member of the Crafting Club that creates items for sale as well as putting on a couple of who-dun-its to offer an alternative to the entertainment provided by the sketch comedy shows the drama club often presents. Myers also is part of the team of six that writes the monthly newsletter, The Tattler, featuring all the latest news and the great many activities that go on at ECRA. Myers organizes ECRA's birthday tea once a month and hosts the bingo once a month.
"I've seen the centre grow in the 11 years I've been there," said Myers, who used to work as a bookkeeper before she retired. "And I do a lot of it to keep the money flowing and the people there are just great and I just love them.
Myers even did a little modeling during fundraising fashion shows for the Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society where she is also a member. Those fashion shows are always a lot of fun, said Myers, who has been a member of the Red Hat Society for 11 years as well. Myers volunteers for the Council of Seniors Christmas Hamper program where she organizes cans and other non perishables and prepares the hampers for delivery. That's all the grunt work because there is a lot of heavy lifting involved as 218 hampers were assembled and delivered to those seniors in need. Also for the Council of Seniors, Myers volunteers at the cafe that is part of the Seniors InfoMart at the BCNE each year, offering coffee, tea and healthy lunches for those seniors who need a bit of a break during the fair.
"I have fluffed trees for the Festival of Trees and greeted people at the door," laughed Myers. "And I was a volunteer driver during the Canada Winter Games."
The reason behind Myer's many years of volunteerism is simple. "I do it because I love people and I get to meet so many great people," she said.
The Citizen's The Volunteer City series will feature local volunteers each week who have previously received little or no public recognition for their efforts. If you know someone who fits that description, send me a note at [email protected] or give me a call at The Citizen (250-960-2773).
Flip through The Citizen's Volunteer City series, featuring stand-out volunteers in Prince George:
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
