'Debbie comes on board'
NAPS welcomes a new volunteer
New volunteer comes forward to help NAPS
Debbie Minter contacted the office to see if she could assist in any way in the work of NAPS. This, in her own words, is how it came about.
"I'd thought about doing "my bit" for charity for quite some time but never seemed to actually get round to it. I wasn't sure what sort of help I could give or what sort of charity would mean something to me. Anyway, sitting at home one evening, a programme came on T.V. called "The Secret Millionaire". It is basically a programme, which each week, follows a millionaire around, who pretends to be a volunteer for a week and at the end of the week, the millionaire gives money from his or her own pocket, to charities that he/she feels are most in need and deserving. Now I am not a millionaire by any stretch of the imagination but it did make me realise that there are still things you can do, by just giving your time. That programme really inspired me and gave me the push I needed, to actually get off my behind and at least look into how to get involved in voluntary work.
"The first stop was Google - Search: "Voluntary work in Kent" and bingo! The choices were endless. I decided to narrow it down to postcode and by doing that I came across NAPS. I couldn't believe that the charity nearest to my home, was in fact the National Association for Premenstrual Syndrome - I thought it must be fate! I didn't even know that such an organisation existed. If only I'd known about it a few years ago, having suffered myself with severe PMS in my late 20's/early 30's! Luckily for me I seem largely to have overcome the dreaded syndrome. I'm not sure if my hormones have just eventually sorted themselves out or if it's down to the change in my diet and the fact that I took up spinning three years ago. However, should it return in the future, I now have comfort in knowing that there is support out there in the form of NAPS, but in the meantime I just feel great, knowing that I can do "my bit" to help."
Post Script from NAPS
What Debbie has omitted to say is that she is a very busy person, working in a London law firm as secretarial co-ordinator for a team of eleven legal secretaries and P.A. to one of the company's partners. Yet, she is still prepared to do any typing needed, in evenings and at weekends, and is happy to help out whenever there are any projects under way which need an extra pair of hands in the office. She has already been involved in the typing up of the 7 Day Eating Plan for inclusion in the members' section of the website and she was one of the team which, one Saturday morning, stapled many of the total of over 6000 items ready for the Health to Hand packs.
NAPS is delighted to welcome her to its team of volunteers and hopes that her generosity of spirit, may be an inspiration to others, to make a commitment to the Association.
If you think you may be able to help in any way, in any aspect of the work NAPS does, please contact Jackie Howe at contact@pms.org.uk You do not have to live within striking distance of the NAPS office to lend your skills. However, if you do, then any assistance you are able to offer will be most welcome.
NAPS regrets that it does not have a photo of Debbie, but like many people, she doesn't like having her picture taken and she just didn't want to see herself in print!
