Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Glan Clwyd’s ‘greenest’ volunteer, Peter Moynihan, has been rewarded for his contribution to the hospital by Wales Council for Voluntary Action who awarded him Wales Green Volunteer of the Year Award 2012 at their annual awards ceremony held recently in Cardiff Castle.
Pete turned his life around while improving the environment for patients and staff at a North Wales hospital. Pete, 54, spends three days a week voluntarily removing litter from the grounds of the Hospital, keeping streams clean, spotting pest problems such as wasps nests, recovering lost property and helping visitors find their way about.
Four years ago, Peter was unable to work through injury, ill health, and high blood pressure. While receiving physiotherapy at Glan Clwyd, he decided to improve his health and fitness.
Not keen on going to a gym, Peter – who has a background in parks and gardens management – offered his services to the hospital as a volunteer litter picker. A typical shift will see him removing anything from cigarette ends to cardboard boxes and dead wildlife.
As a result, he has lost five stone, no longer walks with the aid of a stick, achieved normal blood pressure, become self employed and gained new skills and friends.
“With the long-term goal of self-employment it was important for Pete to demonstrate to himself and others that he is consistent, dependable, honest and not afraid of hard graft; he is inspirational and I am very proud of what he has achieved” said Joanna Tann, Volunteers Manager with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board who nominated Peter for the award.
Peter said his green volunteering has enabled him to “cultivate not only a second chance, but potential as well.”
Pictured is Pete Moynihan at Cardiff Castle with Volunteers Manager, Joanna Tann.