Under the Hillingdon Heroes spotlight this week is a mum who has dedicated most of her life to working with people with learning difficulties.
Retired Ann Greenaway has been a member of Mencap Hillingdon South for more then 40 years, first joining the club because her son Mark has cerebral palsy.
Over the years, she has taken groups of adult members on Christmas trips to Scotland, and is always the life and soul, dragging people onto the dancefloor for a party.
She is also heavily involved in fundraising fetes, and drives a hard bargain when buying fruit and veg to sell, with all profits going to the charity.
Not stopping there, she also regularly volunteers at the Rural Agricultural Garden Centre in Hillingdon, where Mark works, and which gives supported employment and training opportunities with additional needs.
Mrs Greenaway, who lives in Pield Heath Avenue, Hillingdon, has been known to rustle up tasty cakes and treats using the fresh produce, as a reward for the people who tend to the fruit and vegetables.
Ann also regularly lends a helping hand at the Hillingdon Blind Bowlers Club, giving people with poor eyesight and degenerative eye conditions a chance to play the game and meet new people.
“I just really enjoy it. I don’t know anything about being a local hero,” she said. “I get to go on lots of outings and holidays, and I have made lots of good friends over the years.
“If you have a bit of free time, I just think ‘why not?’”
As someone who always wants to do that little bit more, she is known locally for collecting plastic bottle tops which, through various charity schemes, can be recycled in exchange for wheelchairs.
She was nominated by fellow Mencap volunteer Sara Brown, who said in her praise for Ann: “She is such a great ambassador for volunteering and gives such a huge amount of her time to other people, and that is why she should be.
“She is always fondly greeted by those she makes a difference to, and is guaranteed to make everyone smile. Ann always treats everyone as normal people and they have such fun being able to continue to have the banter that most people take for granted in their everyday lives.
“She is always there to make everyone smile.”
The Local Heroes ceremony is on June 5. Nominate your hero using the form above.
Categories this year are just adult or under-18s, but when nominating, consider whether the person is an outstanding young person, star carer, courageous citizen, fabulous fundraiser or community champion.
Our ‘Heroes’ will get a £50 prize and ‘Superheroes’ a £200 prize, plus the chance for a further £500 for being the overall ‘Superhero Of Hillingdon’.
There will also be commendation certificates.
Nominate using the form below
