Award winning Castle Douglas volunteer Hollie Nelson shares her story in Galloway people
dailyrecord.co.ukShe was named as Age Scotland’s Young Volunteer of the Year in 2019 for her contribution to the Golden Day Club in Castle Douglas.
It was a richly deserved accolade for Hollie Nelson who, as part of the small team, dished out dinners and laughter to members at Castle Douglas Community Centre.
What made the award even more special was that Hollie has cerebral palsy, which affects her mobility but, mercifully, has left both speech and intellect untouched.
And chatting with this young woman, there’s something quietly inspirational about her attitude to life – one typified by what you can do, not what you can’t. “There’s no point sitting and dwelling on things – tomorrow is another day,” she says simply. “I’m stubbornly independent and I want to keep that going as long as I can. “I have days when I feel like crap but it could be worse. “There are other people with cerebral palsy I know that are having to be looked after because they can’t do anything themselves. “So I do try to see the silver lining in things.” Hollie, 34, proudly tells me she’s “Castle Douglas born and bred” and from a family of considerable size – to say the least. “My mum Tracy Walker has seven children and my dad Russell Nelson has another two, twin girls,” she says. “I’m the second eldest and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at five.
Read more on dailyrecord.co.uk