Volunteer Whanganui campaign shows the joy of volunteering

Whanganui lawyer Elliot Copeland talks to Bill Podjursky during an outing to Ag Challenge. Photos/ Zaryd Wilson

Sometimes volunteering can bring pure joy.

The final two to take part in Volunteer Whanganui's I Dare You campaign got out in the community on Thursday and discovered just that.

Lawyer Elliot Copeland spent a few hours tagging along on an Alzheimers Whanganui on and outing to Ag Challenge.

Copeland is well versed in volunteering, having joined the board of Volunteer Whanganui as treasurer when he moved to the city last year.

"I thought it was really important coming into a smaller community than the one I'd been in before," he said.

"It's really good meeting all these different people who are giving their time and energy. They're all really selfless people."

Copeland said the day out with Alzheimers Whanganui had been great.

"I'm loving it," he said.

"I had a great conversation with a couple of them on the way out here, learned about the 2015 floods.

"What's really good about it is that it keeps them engaged. By keeping social engagement, you're able to live independently for longer."

Copeland is a lawyer working for Jamie Waugh and said it was possible to juggle professional work with volunteering.

"There is always time. (Jamie's) really supportive of me being engaged in the community."

Midweek's Paul Brooks accompanied a patient to Palmerston North for the Cancer Society. Photo/ Zaryd Wilson

Meanwhile, Whanganui Midweek's Paul Brooks volunteered as a driver for the Whanganui Cancer Society helping regular volunteer Jim Puki take a patient for a check-up at Palmerston North Hospital.

It could not have gone better.

"The answer was all clear, so it was a jubilant couple we took home," Brooks said.

Patients enjoyed the personal touch volunteer drivers provided, he said.

"It was really cool and I'm so impressed with Jim and no doubt the other volunteer drivers who put so much time into it.

"They're not just driving people. It's a whole lot more than that."