Volunteering gives a greater appreciation of life… by Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria volunteer, Shobhna Pandey
‘I love to give something back to the community because it allows me to meet new people, provides a sense of accomplishment and makes me happy.
I have been volunteering for almost 8 years - because of my busy schedule I started with temporary event contribution, which gave me confidence that I could do more committed volunteering.
I met lovely Vicky in 2015 through Miriam at Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria. She has become a good friend of mine and I look forward to our fortnightly walks on Saturdays. We meet around 11am and go for one hour walk to the Maribyrnong River at Highpoint - it is around 5 km, but our never-ending conversation makes it feel very less.
I love Vicky’s positive attitude, she is very understanding and open minded. She inspires me to enjoy life. After our walk when I come home I feel more energetic and a sense of achievement which helps me to finish my weekend chores much faster.
Vicky herself is involved in volunteering. I believe volunteering is a circle: ‘more you give, more you get’. It does not matter how busy you are or what situation you are in - volunteering is always beneficial. It gives an opportunity to broaden a perspective and appreciate life more in general.
Thank you, Miriam for believing in me and giving me chance to meet Vicky. I am hoping to continue my walk with Vicky for many, many years…
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
~Winston Churchill
“The learning curve was steep but I learnt quickly. Rick is patient, experienced as a runner and extremely motivated” said Carlos, BSRV volunteer.
"We became fast friends and have never been at a loss for things to talk and laugh about!"
Heading out most weekends, Annette and BSRV volunteer Andrew are sharing their joy of riding as they explore their local area.
Since losing his sight, Paul has faced challenges head on and believes that anything is possible.
