Westmeath woman named as AXA Community Hero
A Westmeath woman has been named as one of four AXA Community Heroes from around Ireland, following a nationwide search for people making a meaningful difference in their neighbourhoods.
Hundreds of nominations were submitted in four categories, highlighting individuals who show leadership, innovation and creativity in helping others.
Donna Price took the prize in the Road Safety category, thanks to her work with the Irish Road Victims Association.
Having endured the loss of her son Darren in a road traffic collision, Donna was inspired to establish the IRVA to support others facing similar situations, or are living with the physical and mental scars caused by their own experience in a collision.
Through Donna’s guidance and vision, the IRVA has become an invaluable source of help to hundreds of people around Ireland, providing services such as bereavement counselling and legal guidance.
Donna says she’s thrilled with the award and says the €20,000 prize fund will be going to the Irish Road Victims Association: “This week coincides with my son’s 20th anniversary, a huge milestone for our family. I am so proud, to do this work in Darren’s Honour, and in honour of all of our loved ones in IRVA.
“The prize fund will certainly enable IRVA to sustain its support services and continue to provide this much needed assistance to bereaved families and those who have been very seriously injured over the coming years”.
The other winners and their charities are: Sustainability: Scott Bryan, Dublin, Community Roots; Mental Health: Leona O’Callaghan, Limerick, The Haven Hub; Women’s Safety and Wellbeing: Mary Doherty, Donegal, Lifeline Inishowen.
Marguerite Brosnan, CEO of AXA Ireland, said Donna, Leona, Mary and Scott are wonderful examples of the type of person they want to recognise. “Their devotion to helping improve the lives and experiences of others is inspirational and they are truly deserving of the title Community Hero. I would like to sincerely congratulate them for their win and commend them for all their work.”
The AXA Community Heroes were nominated by someone close to them and the company has decided to recognise their efforts too, as Elizabeth Arnett, chief communications, brand and sustainability officer at AXA Ireland explained: “The success of the Community Hero programme relies on people putting others’ names forward and explaining why they deserve the title.
"At a time when we are all living very busy lives, we wanted to show our appreciation for those who took the time to tell us their story. That’s why each person behind the nominations for our winning AXA Community Heroes will also receive €3,000, as a token of our appreciation”.
Full details of the AXA Community Heroes and their achievements can be found at www.axa.ie.