After a long break due to the pandemic, we have been delighted to welcome back our fabulous volunteers to HMRI.
Daphne Patsantzooulos has been volunteering at HMRI for about 8 years and in fact was volunteering for medical research at the University of Newcastle before HMRI even existed. After spending 49 years as a cancer nurse at the Mater Hospital, Daphne says she saw the impact of medical research.
"Over my career, I saw new treatments improve lives, people began surviving and living a lot longer," Daphne said.
Daphne said she also felt the effects first-hand when cancer struck close to home.
"I recently lost my husband of 40 years. I gave up work to look after him and I realised that it was new drugs that gave him an extra three or four years of life, " Daphne said.
Currently, Daphne comes in about eight hours a week and mostly helps out with some of the clerical work, but she says it is still a good thing to do.
"I feel I need something to be doing all the time, I'm not a TV watcher. I am in Probus and lots of other activities, I like to be on the go".
HMRI could not operate without the help of our volunteers and we are so happy to have them back.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at HMRI, you can find out more or express your interest here
