More than 40 volunteers were recognised for their outstanding contributions to their community on Daffodil Day, with two volunteers celebrating their 25th anniversary of the event.
The lunch was organised by Daffodil Day coordinator, Karen Watkins, who felt the extraordinary dedication shown by volunteers in the area needed to be celebrated.
“I was going through the list of volunteers when I saw that one had done 25 years, then another, and others had done it for 10 or 20 years, and I thought this was incredible,” says Karen.
Fay Moore and Janice King were honoured for 25 years’ service to Daffodil Day, while Angela Thornton, Jan Reynolds and Warren Long were recognised for more than 20 years.
The lunch also recognised the substantial support of the Tokoroa District Lions, Tokoroa City Lions, Tokoroa Host Lions, and Tirau Lions.
Daffodil Day is the Cancer Society’s largest fundraiser, helping to continue the charity’s various essential services for people with cancer, and has been a part of the community calendar since 1990.
Helen Carter, chief executive of the Cancer Society Waikato/Bay of Plenty, says the support in Tokoroa and surrounding communities has been especially significant.
“Volunteers are the driving force behind Daffodil Day and the volunteers in Tokoroa are exemplary,” says Helen.
“On behalf of the Cancer Society, we would like to thank them all for their dedication and support over such an awe-inspiring number of years.
“Put simply, our services would not be able to continue without the community getting behind us.”
Karen would also like to thank Elim Christian Centre and New World Tokoroa for their support of the lunch.
