A DEDICATED couple have between them clocked up almost 20 years volunteering at Helen & Douglas House.

Sandie Richardson from Abingdon starting helping out at the children’s hospice when she retired 11 years ago and was followed six years ago by husband Don when he finished working.

She said: “Since volunteering at Helen & Douglas House we have seen first-hand more about the families it cares for and how the hospice deals with these in a practical but caring manner and how much this means to the families.

“There is much enjoyment to be had in being part of an invaluable organisation with such a positive approach to life. We get more from volunteering that we put in.”

The pair both volunteer for a day each week in the office and as keen gardeners, twice a month they help maintain Tania Beale’s garden in Abingdon, whose two daughters have been cared for by the East Oxford charity.

Amanda is 13 years old and has spina bifida, and has been visiting the hospice for respite care since she was aged 22 months.

Ms Beale was also the guardian of Imogen, who was severely disabled and visited the hospice for respite care from the age of one until her death in 2016 at 13.

She said: “As a Helen House parent, I can’t thank Helen & Douglas House enough for the lovely gardening volunteers we’ve had over the past few years.

“When my daughter was at her sickest, it simply wasn’t possible to do any work at all on our garden.

“If I left her inside, I risked missing life threatening seizures or choking episodes. If I brought her out with me, the noise of the mower or simply the smells of fresh pruning would cause her to panic or struggle to breathe.

“I’d escape into the garden for a few minutes here and there when we had nursing cover, or when I could be reasonably sure she was stable for a few minutes. I’d feel overwhelmed at the knee high grass, the weeds and the amount of work which needed to be done.

“And then along came Sandie and Don, and our lawns were mown, our beds weeded and planted up, everything trimmed, tidied, organised and beautified.

“Then, when I had a few minutes to myself I could just sit and breathe, be calm and gather strength, ready to walk back into the house and deal with the next medical emergency.”

Wendy Bridge, head of volunteering at Helen & Douglas House said the charity was ‘so grateful’ to the Abingdon couple and all its 873 volunteers.

She added: “All our volunteer roles make a huge difference to the lives of families with terminally ill children whether it be through helping families in their own home with housework, car washing or gardening or helping raise money in one of our shops.”