DKMS UK celebrates first ever Volunteer Awards
An evening to remember
On May 9th, people from across the DKMS UK community came together for our very first Volunteer Awards – an inspiring evening dedicated to recognising the passion, commitment, and impact of our volunteers.
The event celebrated those who help DKMS UK reach more potential stem cell donors and offer more patients a second chance at life. Throughout the ceremony, volunteers from across the UK were recognised for their outstanding contributions, with awards ranging from Best Dressed Volunteer at an Event to the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award.
A huge congratulations to this year’s formal award winners:
- 🏆 Volunteer of the Year - Lesley Calder
- 🏆 Student Ambassador of the Year - Natasha Wake
- 🏆 Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year - Manj Kaur
- 🏆 Volunteer Hub of the Year - West Midlands
The power of stories and connection
More importantly, the evening gave us the chance to share the powerful stories behind the volunteering people do for us. One particularly moving moment highlighted Lorna’s journey – from volunteering as part of our Scotland Hub, to becoming a stem cell donor for Jacob, and now seeing Jacob and his family volunteer with our newest hub, Herts & Essex.
Stories like these are always a lovely reminder of the lasting impact our volunteer community has every single day.
The evening was filled with heartfelt speeches, well-deserved recognition, and plenty of opportunities to connect, reflect, and celebrate together. There was a real sense of pride and appreciation in the room for everything our volunteers have achieved over the past year.
"This was such an emotive and uplifting evening. Our volunteers stand shoulder to shoulder with our UK team as the heart and soul of all we do. I send my gratitude and thanks to our volunteer cohort as well as the UK team who made this event the success it was."
"What an inspiring and uplifting evening. As this was my first volunteer event with DKMS, I was truly moved by the energy, passion and dedication in the room. Our volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and I’m in awe of the extraordinary contribution they continue to make. Thank you to everyone who made the evening so special.”
We thank you
A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising and supporting the event, and, of course, to all of our volunteers for the energy, dedication, and enthusiasm they bring to DKMS UK.
The awards were a celebration to the power of community and a testament to what we can achieve together.
Volunteer with us
Learn about the different ways you can get involved here.
