Name: Lynnette Olding

Organisation: The snowdrop appeal

Award Category: Volunteer Of The Year

Sponsored By:

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My Plea:

Being nominated for volunteer of the year 2019 was a pleasure, being shortlisted is an honour. So, what do I do to warrant this title.

My Name is Lynnette Olding and I am 30yrs of age, and I contribute to the baby loss community.

One winters day two individuals were braving the weather to set up for yet another car boot sale. This is something they did every weekend. These two people were Greg and Jen Phillips. Two people who are now two of my best friends. It was on this day that we were to meet and build a relationship originally as co-workers but since much stronger.

I had just lost my mum at the young age of twenty. Twenty-four hours after, I found out I was pregnant with my second child this was both exciting but bittersweet. I was in a whirlwind of emotions and needed something to focus on. So, after an initial meeting with these two strangers I knew I had to help them, this was a way of keeping our angel babies memories alive.
Their original aim was to raise awareness and money for a separate unit within Derriford hospital, Plymouth. This unit would be a room in which ladies and their families could bring their angels into the world with more dignity and support then what has previously been on offer. However, after listening to there ambition and the goals that had been set. It was clear to me that they were not going to make the £100,000 target to get the project started by doing car boot sales. At this stage I was a bit firm, still not really knowing these people, I put my foot down and said ‘come on we need to be doing more if we are ever going to make a difference.’ That day I become the events co-ordinator.

So, here we are probably one of the smallest charities out there with only four (we have picked up another lovely lady along the way) active members smashing that target with a current total of over £130,000 raised so far. What keeps my determination going is that as a direct result of my accomplishments we now currently have an up and running room. This allowing families the time, rest and empathy that is needed as they start a journey no one ever wishes to be a part of.

To be able to make this happen, I have had to work hard. Filling my nights with raffle ideas and food options, venues and entertainment. I even have an event that I have grown from a village fate consisting of about 20 attendees, to a party in the park with over 3,000. I have travelled the whole of the south west raising both money and awareness for still birth in our babies memory. Including a trip to Cornwall to stand in front of the reginal bank workers of HSBC and tell them why I/we as a charity deserve to have them on board choosing us as their charity of the year, (and we won). All of this whilst trying to be a single, motherless mum, working part time, completing my studies for my current nursing degree, as well as all the other boring jobs such as housework and alike.

The Snowdrop Appeal isn’t what it is because of me, it is because of a beautiful baby girl born too perfect for earth, because of four people with determination. It was just me that took that determination and made it bloom!

What Others Have Said

Lynette works so had, working towards a degree in nursing and a single mother with no mother of her own. I don’t know how she does it.