Red Cross volunteer awarded commemorative coin for her efforts as charity celebrates 150 years
A Red Cross volunteer has been awarded a special commemorative coin by the Royal Mint for her services and contribution to the charity.
It comes as the organisation celebrates its 150th birthday.
Sandra Fisher from Caldicot in Monmouthshire has been volunteering for the British Red Cross for 27 years and will receive a coin after contributing to the charity's coronavirus effort from home while isolating.
A former teacher, Sandra has supported people caught up in emergencies, like flooding or house fires. At the start of the coronavirus outbreak, she was isolating at home but was still keen to volunteer for the Red Cross coronavirus telephone support line.
Sandra said: "I feel I've been able to help people, even though I haven't been able to see them directly. Providing a listening ear and, in some cases, providing practical support and being able to signpost them to other organisations that might be able to help, I think that's been very worthwhile."
Ms Fisher said she feels "very honoured and privileged to be recognised in this way" and added: "I've always tried to do everything I can to help people."
The Royal Mint in Llantrisant has launched the new £5 coin as a tribute to the organisation's work in the UK and globally. Sandra’s coin is one of 150 to be handed to volunteers and staff at the Red Cross nominated for going above and beyond during the Covid-19 emergency.
An inscription around the coin reads "per humanitatem ad pacem" which translates to "through humanity to peace".
The charity's boss said the organisation was "honoured" by the commemoration and paid tribute to staff and volunteers.
Chief executive Mike Adamson said: "Today our staff and volunteers are putting kindness in action at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have been supporting the most vulnerable by delivering food and medicine, making sure refugees and people seeking asylum are safe, providing a supportive ear through our national support line and helping the NHS to get patients home from hospital."
He added: "From then to now, it's all down to the dedication of our volunteers, staff and the generosity of our supporters that we can continue our lifesaving work. "And it is the power of their kindness that will ensure we are there for those who need us most for many years to come."
The British Red cross respond in both domestic and international crises, and have provided support during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and responded to incidents such as the Grenfell Tower fire and tsunami in the Indian Ocean on Boxing Day 2004.