June 18, 2024
Volunteering good for the wairua
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A volunteer at the Cancer Society’s Lions Lodge in Hamilton says she’s giving back the manaaki showed to her in a time of need.
It’s National Volunteers Week, with this year’s theme being Whiria te tangata – Weave the people together.
Huia Patena underwent breast cancer treatment in 2022 and says the Cancer Society helped get her to and from her appointments as she couldn’t drive because of a stroke.
She volunteers once a week, talking with guests and especially with Māori who come into the lodge for assistance.
“Just does so much for my wairua. It really does. The fact I can help one person. Yeah, it’s just overwhelming, I don’t know, I can’t explain it. It’s just really good,” she says.
Huia Patena says cancer touches a lot of Māori lives.