If you need a volunteer who’ll put their hand up for anything then Invercargill’s Mark Sales is your man.
Mark first approached the Cancer Society in 2014 after he had “got back up on (his) feet” from surgery for Pseudomyxoma peritonei, a rare cancer that originated in his appendix.
“I told them I was interested in helping out in any way, shape or form,” says Mark. “It started out slowly then it gradually built.”
Mark started out helping with the Daffodil Day street appeal but has also been involved in Relay for Life events on the organising committee and other events to raise awareness of Cancer Society services and cancer prevention. Peppered around those public events he's involved regularly behind the scenes on a host of odd jobs that need doing from deliveries to stocktakes to putting up shelves.
Joy Freemantle, Community Coordinator for the Cancer Society in Southland, says Mark is “so helpful” and can be relied on to get stuck in and help from dawn to dusk on an event day.
“Nothing is ever a problem, he’s a hard worker and he always has a smile.”
The team in the Southland office also love that handyman Mark has had another set of hands regularly joining him to volunteer over the past six years. His granddaughter Scarlett (now 11 and at Southland Girls High School) has been a frequent helper since her grandfather brought her along with him when she was about five years old.
Scarlett’s favourite task is helping bunch the daffodils for sale on Daffodil Day.
The Cancer Society wishes to take the opportunity this National Volunteer Week to thank all the amazing volunteers who, just like Mark and Scarlett give their time, energy and enthusiasm to support its work. If you’re keen to find out more about how you can get involved in volunteering with the Cancer Society head to cancer.org.nz/get-involved/volunteer/
