You can bet on this volunteer

NEARLY 50 years ago, Betty Wall and her late husband Kevin decided to spend their spare time volunteering for Variety The Children’s Charity to raise money and put “joy on the children’s faces.’’ But it soon became their life mission.

“I have loved every minute of it. My husband was a very soft and kind man and he used to say, ‘Bet, this is what makes it all worthwhile’ to see the joy.’ It is a lot of work, it has been challenging but it has been so worthwhile,’’ says Betty, now aged 80, from Howth, Co Dublin.

This month Betty was “highly honoured’’ to win the 2012 Volunteer Ireland Award in the Heath and Disability category, acknowledging her hard work over the years.