Last updated at 16:33, Wednesday, 08 August 2012

A MUM and daughter have been helping to ensure the Olympic sailing events have been a pain-free experience.

Sixth form student Bethany Brockbank, from Kirkby, and her mother Anne, 47, spent five days in Weymouth and Portland as volunteers for the Red Cross.

The organisation has joined forces with St John Ambulance, with volunteers from both charities giving up their free time to provide first aid cover throughout Olympic events.

Bethany, 17, said: “I joined (the Red Cross) when I was doing my Duke of Edinburgh Award when I had to do some volunteering.

“I knew about the organisation and thought it was so brilliant that I wouldn’t have wanted to volunteer anywhere else. I also plan to be an adult nurse when I finish my studies so first aid seemed like an ideal fit.”

Mrs Brockbank said: “Me joining was all down to Bethany. She enjoyed it so much and was always talking about it.

“ I had to drop her off and pick her up from each session so I thought, ‘why don’t I just join too and we can do it together?’, so I did and it has been brilliant.”

The pair said they enjoyed their Olympic experience, with Bethany saying: “A lot of the volunteers have come from all over the place so we’ve been camping together in Weymouth which has been good. And being part of such a big event has been a good experience. Working with my mum has been great, too.”

The duo mainly dealt with cuts and grazes, and Mrs Brockbank said: “I’ve been working on the outdoor sports area where there are a lot of children and families and the kids are able to try out beach sports like football so we’ve had a few bent toes and scraped knees.”

Both said they would encourage others to find out about volunteering opportunities with the Red Cross.

Mrs Brockbank added: “I would really recommend it. In our area, it’s great. The Barrow branch is so popular now – so many people have been joining.

“It’s always nice to meet different people and not just the other volunteers, the people you meet at events too.”

First published at 16:20, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk