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Charity campaigners rewarded with MBEs
THREE tireless local campaigners have been named in the New Year's Honours list for their sterling work in the community.
Roy and June Bloom, who are treasurer and secretary of Treeton Methodist Church and annually raise thousands of pounds for charity, were given MBEs.
They were joined by the founder of Dinnington charity SAFE@LAST Hilary Massarella, who was awarded an MBE for her work with young people at risk through running away.
In the last 17 years Roy, 79, and June, 80, have raised nearly 30,000 for church coffers, and around 20,000 for the Bluebell Wood Hospice, Rotherham Hospice and the MS Centre at Catcliffe, by opening up their house and garden.
The couple, of Worral Avenue, Treeton, have been married for 58 years and have three children and five grandchildren.
Roy said: “We are very honoured, but we are just a channel. We couldn’t have done any of it without the support of everyone involved over the years.”
“You can throw open your house and garden but if nobody turns up you’re not going to raise any money.”
Hilary Massarella started SAFE@LAST 11 years ago after seeing a documentary about a 14-year-old girl who was abused by a number of adults after being placed in their care.
The charity now has 16 staff members and many volunteers. It provides a helpline and missing young people’s service which consists of one-to-one support, preventative workshops and the only refuge outside of London for children and young people under the age of 16.
Among the young people the charity works with are those suffering from neglect, physical abuse, self harming, forced marriage, conflict and violence at home, sexual exploitation and mental health problems.
Hilary said: “The news that I had won this award was truly a shock.”
“Receiving an award such as this was something I had never even considered but it is with great delight that it is received.”
“Of course, awards really reflect the success of many more people than the person on which it is bestowed.”
“I have been blessed to have been surrounded by a team of committed volunteers and staff and together we have turned those early hopes into a reality.”
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Weather for Dinnington
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
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