Volunteer highlight – Deb

We’re very fortunate to have so many volunteers throughout the charity who give their time to support our work, including people who have dedicated their time to fundraising for us for over a decade.

We’re sharing Deb’s story as a “thank you” to her, and to all of you who give your time to us.

Getting involved with Myeloma UK

Deb was diagnosed with myeloma in 2009, when she was aged 34 with two children under five. She heard about Myeloma UK from her Clinical Nurse Specialist and started using the online discussion forum.

Deb said:

“The discussion forum was invaluable to me as it meant I could connect with younger patients, like myself, that I could relate to. It was so important to me to be positive from the start, and it made me realise that there was a future ahead.”

Raising over £300,000 for people with myeloma

Deb started fundraising for Myeloma UK in 2010 with a group of her family and friends. Since then, she has raised an astonishing £300,000 for Myeloma UK, which last year was recognised by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising who gave her the Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025.

Deb explained:

“I walked the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge together with family and friends, and it really gave me the fundraising bug. I got bored of doing smaller things and kept trying to do more and bigger! So I completed “40 challenges by 40” then raised “£50k by 50”. In May this year I took part in the London to Paris cycle with a team, and in total we have raised over £75,000.”

Deb also volunteers as a Peer Buddy, and has previously volunteered with the Fundraising team, helping with Trusts and Foundations funding applications.

Deb said:

“Although Myeloma UK has gained from the volunteering that I’ve done, I have gained so much too. The Trusts and Foundations volunteering led to me securing employment in that area, and I’m very grateful for that opportunity”.

Highlights from her volunteering

Deb had two highlights from her volunteering over the past 15 years.

Deb said:

“Being a Peer Buddy allows me to share the message that it’s possible to have a strong future ahead, giving people confidence and helping them feel calmer. It’s a great feeling as a volunteer to know that you’re helping other people, and it helps you to stay positive yourself.”

Deb’s second highlight was taking part in the London to Paris cycle in 2026.

Deb added:

“It was a wonderful experience, I enjoyed meeting other patients and the healthcare professionals too. It changed people’s lives in the team.

Volunteering for Myeloma UK has been a chance to give back to a charity that has done so much for me. The team are amazing and look after their supporters so well, I felt like they really cared. It’s given me a real purpose and something positive to focus on and allowed me to connect to people and build positive relationships”.

Thank you so much to Deb for being our highlighted volunteer!

To find out more about volunteering with Myeloma UK, please email volunteering@myeloma.org.uk