Voting opens for our Volunteer Awards 2012

Voting has opened today for our Volunteer Awards 2012.

This year's awards, which are sponsored by oil refinery company Valero, will officially recognise the priceless commitment and hard work of our volunteers and their invaluable support in helping people affected by cancer.

The nominations will be judged by an esteemed panel, which includes last year's Tenovus Volunteer of the Year, Pauline Cole from Pembrokeshire.

Tenovus has more than 1600 volunteers helping the charity throughout Wales and England, with every volunteer dedicating their time and skills to support people whose lives have been touched by cancer.

The volunteer awards recognise this effort and the winners will be officially celebrated at a prestigious ceremony on 5 July at St David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff Bay.

There are seven awards in total, including Supportive, Inspiring, Young Volunteer of the Year and also the overall Volunteer of the Year award.

The awards are open to anyone who volunteers for Tenovus and anyone can vote.

Kerry Marland, Tenovus' Volunteer Development Manager, said:

"Volunteers are an invaluable source of support for the charity. If every one of our volunteers works just four hours per week during the year, they are donating a massive 270,400 hours to the charity!

"From volunteering in one of our 66 shops to operating our Freephone Cancer Support Line, every volunteer makes a massive difference to our work.

"Our Volunteer Awards ceremony is the perfect opportunity for us to officially recognise what our volunteers do for us and to say a massive thank you - not just to the winners but to everyone else who supports us too.

"We encourage votes from members of the public and family or friends who have had a positive experience with a Tenovus volunteer or have been helped in a special way."

Jane James, Valero manager for policy, Government and public affairs said:

"Building on the refinery's previous support of Tenovus, we wanted to support the Volunteer of the Year 2012 awards as volunteering activities are an important part of how we at Valero demonstrate our commitment to the community and we recognise the tremendous value of the work carried out by volunteers in their communities."

Do you have a Tenovus volunteer you would like to nominate? Please pick up a nomination form from your nearest Tenovus shop or fill in our online nomination form.