New award for young volunteer

17 June 2003

Time:                12 noon

Date:                Thursday 3 July

Venue:  New Education Centre, West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds

The efforts and commitment of young volunteers working at the West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust will be recognised on Thursday 3 July, when the Dr Damian Kershaw Award is presented for the first time. Media are invited to attend.

The new award recognises the achievements of those volunteers between the ages of 16 and 30 who during the course of their voluntary work have displayed special qualities, enthusiasm and commitment. Preference is shown to those volunteers who are considering a medical, nursing or other career in the NHS.

Damian Kershaw volunteered at the West Suffolk Hospital in 1989 for about 18 months whilst still at school.  He went on to gain a medical degree from the Royal London Hospital and subsequently became a surgeon in the Royal Navy. It was Damian’s ultimate aim to become a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services doctor, and in order to achieve this ambition he started training as a Consultant Anaesthetist at Southampton City Hospital in August 2000. Tragically, he died suddenly in May 2001 at the age of 28. The award in his name is intended to recognise his achievements and act as an inspiration to other local young people.

“Damian was a lively and energetic lad, very determined to succeed in his chosen medical career,” said Geraldine Debenham, Voluntary Services Manager. “We wanted to acknowledge everything he achieved in his short life, and setting up an award in his name seemed a good way of encouraging other young people at the start of their careers.

“We all knew that Damian would make a wonderful doctor one day, and were it not for his untimely death he would have gone on to help many people. The Dr Damian Kershaw Award seeks to reward young people who give up their free time to help others, and we hope that it may encourage others to consider working in the NHS.”

The award comprises £200 in book tokens together with a certificate of achievement. It will be presented by Trust Chairman Veronica Worrall and Jackie Kershaw, Damian’s mother.