Volunteer overcomes obstacles to help others

Guest post by Abhishek Anand, Communications Volunteer

April 6-12 is National Volunteer Week. Meet some of the inspiring Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission in communities across Canada.

Physical disability has not stopped Cherri Lynn Hocken from volunteering for the Canadian Red Cross. She has now dedicated more than 15 years with the organization in Alberta.

With a condition called myotonic dystrophy, Hocken, 39, has transformed her challenges into inspiration for others. As a media archivist, her job includes finding and clipping articles from local newspapers where Red Cross has been mentioned and organizing them to be filed and recorded.

“She is a ‘can-do’ kind-of-girl,” says Elin Barlem, Hocken’s service co-ordinator with Catholic Family Services. “She loves Red Cross because they value her services and she feels respected. Red Cross has made her believe that she is a part of the community.”

Volunteering for Red Cross has increased her self-confidence and improved her interpersonal skills.

“The support she gets keeps her going forward. Red Cross has given her a new life.”

Staff and volunteers continue to recognize her dedication and support over the years. She has won a wide variety of Red Cross awards including six certificates of appreciation and milestone awards for her many years of service. She has received a community service award in 2007 and most recently, been nominated for a Mayor’s Recognition Citizenship award, that will be presented by the mayor of Red Deer in April.

“She is a breath of fresh air, always friendly to our staff and other volunteers,” says Rhonda Schwab, operations manager at the Red Cross in Alberta. “We are privileged to have her as part of our Red Cross family. I appreciate her both as an individual and a volunteer.”

Hocken’s love for volunteering doesn’t stop at Red Cross – she contributes to other organizations in Red Deer including Loaves and Fishes, Red Deer Food Bank, Bargain Treasures, and the Women’s Shelter.

“Ignorance of one’s ability is true disability,” explains Barlem. “She never wants her physical disability to be an excuse for not being involved. She doesn’t want anything to hold her back.”