Joan helping cancer patients smile after 20 years of volunteering

Now, 20 years on, Joan Pugh is a key part of the Macmillan support team at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital.

The hospital’s Macmillan Information and Support Centre celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Joan, from Willenhall, who was the support group’s first volunteer, is now its co-ordinator.

She went to her first meeting to support a friend who had bowel cancer, and now says: “Whilst I myself didn’t have bowel cancer, I went through the same operation.

“It means I can answer people’s questions because I’ve been through it too.

“This gives them a focus and lets them think: ‘I can get through this.’ It’s definitely an inspiration for them.”

The 68-year-old is also a focus figure for organisers of Volunteer Week, which runs from June 1-7 and aims to inspire more people to take up a volunteering role in their spare time.

She says her role has changed over the years from merely giving out information booklets to now sitting down and talking to patients openly about their concerns.

Volunteers also work closely with the city council’s welfare rights advice team. She added: “A lot of patients worry about how bills are going to be paid if they have to have a lot of time off work for treatment, or if it’s a younger person, they’re worried about telling the children.

“I always find being truthful is the best way. Children especially accept an illness.

“Helping to put a smile on someone’s face or pointing them in the right direction is the best part of volunteering.