This week’s blog is written by Georgia Kennedy, who recently volunteered at Beacon.
Hear more about Georgia’s experience and what she enjoyed about volunteering with us.
My name is Georgia, and I volunteered with Beacon during my summer placement and really enjoyed it! I’m currently studying biomedical science at Royal Holloway University and I am hoping to move into a career in medical research or pharmaceuticals in the future!
Working with Beacon has really helped me rediscover my passion for helping others through research, and I will continue to work towards this goal in my final year of university.
Genetics is a topic I find incredibly interesting and complex. I have loved having the opportunity to research it further and I am so happy to have this guide published as my first step towards helping others and making positive change.
How did you hear about Beacon?
I heard about Beacon through my university who suggested a placement with them. I decided to go ahead and apply after learning more about Beacon and the work they do.
Why did you choose to volunteer with Beacon?
Beacon has helped so many people and patient groups through its charity work, and it seemed like something I wanted to be a part of.
I have always loved to help people, and I plan to go into medical research or something similar in the future, so this seemed like a great place to start.
Beacon offered me an opportunity to research and write a guide for them on a subject I am particularly interested in, so it was obvious this was the right place to volunteer.
What has been the highlight of volunteering with us?
I have loved working with Blayne whilst volunteering, she has been so friendly throughout. She really encouraged me to write well through her feedback. The morning zoom calls were definitely the highlight!
What have you learnt about rare diseases and rare disease patient groups?
I have learned so many new things during my time volunteering with Beacon – through the research I have conducted, but also through the charity itself.
I learnt on the first day how many people are affected by rare diseases, and I was shocked by how many it was. I also learnt that some people who are diagnosed with rare diseases sometimes start up charities themselves, as the diseases are so rare there isn’t yet a patient group.
It was really inspiring to me to hear about patients and parents spreading awareness about rare diseases and creating supportive communities for others who may be struggling.
What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering with Beacon?
I have loved volunteering with Beacon so much and I learned so many new things during my time.
I would definitely recommend volunteering with Beacon because I have really felt as though I am making a positive difference. If you are interested in helping people and working in a friendly, relaxed environment, there is no better place.
Writing the guide did take some time, so be prepared to be busy for a few weeks and make sure whatever you are doing you enjoy and are interested in!
Thank you for reading this blog about Georgia’s experience as one of our volunteers.
The online course that Georgia worked on will be coming soon, so keep an eye out for them on our Resources Hub!
Find out more about how you can volunteer for us below.
