Jayne’s Story

My name is Jayne Copeland I am 17. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma after and during treatment I decided I wanted to use my spare time to help others in my local community. Teenage Cancer Trust was one of the charities that helped me out while I was dealing with the changes that were happening and helped me deal with the whole process of understanding and coming to terms with having cancer. Due to their support I wanted to help them as much as they had helped me so I organised a 6 hour sponsored silence within my school with many of my friend participating for the whole school day. My mum and I did the sponsored silence for 24 hours and raised a total of £610.

Within the local community I volunteered in both the nursing home in my town for 2 hours a week, and in the children’s ward in Wishaw General Hospital. I also help out younger kids at the dance school I attend, I support the junior section of 1st Wishaw girls brigade where I am a warrant officer, in 2nd Wishaw boys brigade. On top of all this I help with lunch clubs, peer support, summer school and paired reading within my school.

My head teacher, Ian Sommerville, put me forward for the Diana Award because of all my volunteering work and when I heard I was the recipient of this award I was happy but slightly shocked as I don’t really want recognition for the work I do. Seeing the smiles on the peoples’ faces that I help is the real award for doing volunteer work in my eyes.