'It’s such an honour and privilege to be doing this work'
Westmeath Independent Community & Sports Awards in association with Westmeath County Council
Unsung Hero finalist: Daniel Berry
Daniel Berry gives completely of his free time outside work to his chosen volunteering endeavours, and it’s a lifetime practice for him, going back over a decade, to when he was eleven years. At that young age, he was both a cadet with the Order of Malta Ireland - Ambulance Corps – Athlone, and an altar boy at Ss Peter’s and Paul’s church. Both activities he has kept up in his 20s.
He finds the nomination a complete honour that he wasn’t expecting, because volunteering is a natural process of life for him and something he greatly enjoys.
The Order of Malta is a voluntary ambulance service that provides medical cover at events and brings people to and from hospital appointments
“We have our own pilgrimages to Lourdes every May, and Knock every August each year,” said Daniel. “We’d bring a good few people on the pilgrimages and we have dealt with emergencies.”
Daniel is currently waiting to do exams for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) with the Order of Malta in the coming weeks. He has helped many people through his emergency work and made many friends not just in Ireland but internationally for his care and kindness with individuals.
Daniel is working at the Sheraton Athlone Hotel as a Reservation Executive, but when he finishes his shifts, his involvement in the Order of Malta takes over, including training, both physical and mental, and he’s always on alert for whenever he and his colleagues are needed to cover at major events.
“It’s such an honour and privilege to be doing this work,” said Daniel.
He has also continued his involvement and volunteerism in Ss Peter’s and Paul’s church, Athlone, long after his schooldays has ended.
“I was an altar boy, and still volunteer there a good bit,” he said, explaining that he became involved due to his friend, the late Sr Bernard.
Daniel plans to continue as a volunteer as he has done since childhood.
“Someday, I could be splitting myself in two or three, but that’s good, and I will continue volunteering and everybody should be doing it,” he said. “There is no reason why not!”
The Unsung Hero award finalists are Maria Flanagan, Daniel Berry, and Deirdre Collins
The Unsung Hero award is sponsored by West-Midlands Credit Union