A WORCESTER ‘hidden hero’ who makes a big difference to people’s lives has been recognised with a donation from the Asda Foundation.
Beatrice Furlong, 98, and her daughter, Mal, were nominated for an Asda Hidden Hero award by Asda Worcester store’s Community Champion John Horsley who presented the pair with a festive hamper and a bingo machine for the lunch club.
The donation helped provide a meal for 50 people at Brickfields Community Centre’s lunch club at the Old Pavillion.
The Furlong family have been involved in the community centre in Brickfields for many years; Beatrice and her late husband, Vincent, first set up a community centre on the King George V playing fields in 1951.
The current centre is now owned and maintained by the council but still has a meeting room named after the Furlong family.
There are also photos on the wall of Beatrice meeting celebrities at an awards ceremony in London to celebrate their successful fund-raising campaign and the launch of the community centre.
The Hidden Heroes campaign is celebrating the hard work of the volunteers, carers and fellow Asda colleagues who dedicate their own time and efforts to helping other people.
John Horsley, Community Champion for Asda Worcester, said: “Beatrice and Mal are just unbelievable, they work non-stop for the Worcester community.
“It’s a privilege to be able to bring some joy to the people in our community who deserve it most at this special time of the year.
“By contributing to this special event, Asda is delighted to reward the volunteers who make a difference throughout the year, and the donation will hopefully go a long way to helping those who perhaps need it most in our local community.”
Mal said: “I used to be a warden for sheltered accommodation in the area so a lot of the older ones knew me already.
“We have bingo, guest speakers and parties for special occasions like Easter and Christmas; it’s something to reminisce about – it’s finding the little things that help them enjoy life.”
Set up in 1988, the Asda Foundation is a registered charity that aims to have a positive impact on local communities, making independent grants to provide support to a range of local good causes, chosen by Asda’s community life colleagues throughout the UK.
It funds charitable projects and activities what have the ability and potential to achieve change for the better – with the aim of making a significant difference to local communities and the people who live there, both now and in the future.
