Legacy of kindness through decades of volunteering

When Mary Donald died last year, aged 68, she left behind her devastated husband and sister. But she also left an amazing legacy.

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Because, inspired by her, Mary's loved ones have given more than 40 years to others through volunteering.

Mary had multiple sclerosis (MS) and persuaded sister Sheena Rollo and husband Robert Donald to help out at the MS Society's Dumbarton and District Local Group, which she attended.

Decades later, they’re both committee members and Sheena is the Group Coordinator.

This Volunteers’ Week (Monday 2 to Sunday 8 June), Sheena and Robert are sharing the benefits of giving time for others, and are encouraging everyone to give volunteering a go.

Mary was just 26 years old when she was told she had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS).

She lived with vision and balance problems for three or four years before being diagnosed.

Back then, in the 1980s, much less was known about MS, and far fewer treatments were available. But Mary found support through the MS Society's Dumbarton and District Local Group.

And she soon persuaded her husband and sister to roll up their sleeves and get involved in group activities.

Robert, now 70, a retired mechanical engineer living in Helensburgh, recalled: “Mary joined the group and at first I was just a ‘hanger on! I must have joined in the late 90s but I got really involved just before 2000.

“They were looking for somebody to take the minutes in the meetings so muggins volunteered! I was still working when I first started volunteering with the group.”

Sheena, 68, who lives in Dumbarton and previously worked as an administrative officer for local government, said: “I took early retirement and Mary started to put a bit of pressure on me.

“She said, look, we really need someone with your experience; she really buttered me up! She said if I went along and helped out it would give Robert a real break.

“So in 2007 or thereabouts, that’s when I got involved.”