YOUR CHAMPIONS: “Dedicated, caring” Eileen Slattery of Pets As Therapy nominated for our community awards

Aug 24 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A DEDICATED Wirral charity volunteer has been nominated for a Your Champions award.

Our postbag this week was dominated by letters praising Eileen Slattery of Woodchurch, many describing her as “an inspiration”.

Eileen is a co-ordinator for Pets As Therapy (PAT), which sends volunteers and their pets into hospitals, special needs schools and nursing homes across the UK.

The charity believes the sessions help comfort patients and give older people in a care environment a boost.

Eileen has been nominated in our new category for Champion Volunteer, which aims to reward an individual who has worked quietly for years to help a charity.

Carol Tinsley, from Newton, wrote that she was nominating Eileen for “all the wonderful work she does for people in the community with the PAT dogs. Marvellous!”

Iris O’Brien, from Heswall, said: “She gives her time freely in connection with PAT dogs, taking them into hospital and garden fetes. She works tirelessly for this cause.”

More praise came from Debbie Bradley from Meols, who wrote: “Eileen is one of the kindest people I know. She brings so much laughter to everyone fortunate enough to come into contact with her.”

Others described Eileen as dedicated, motivated, enthusiastic and caring.

Your Champions, a joint initiative by Wirral News and ScottishPower, is your chance to help us highlight the good work of an individual or group which has benefited the community.

Your Champions was launched in Wirral in 2009 and we want you to tell us who should receive the red-carpet treatment this year.

Our most deserving heroes and heroines will be honoured at a presentation ceremony at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester on Friday, November 18, where they will also be in the running for a regional champion of champions award.

Wirral News will select its own category winners, with judges from Scottish Power, and they will then go forward to the regional finals.

To nominate, log on to www.wirralnews.co.uk, e-mail newsdesk@wirralnews.co.uk or send the form to us at Your Champions, Wirral News, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.