Remember a Charity week: Why I’ll always support Save the Children

To mark Remember a Charity Week, we spoke to long-term supporter and volunteer extraordinaire, Marilyn Payne, who earlier this year was honoured with an MBE for services to charity.

We asked Marilyn to share how she got involved with Save the Children over three decades ago, and why she wants her lifelong support to continue even when she’s no longer around.

“I started volunteering with Save the Children 34 years ago, after seeing an article in our local newspaper that invited people to start a fundraising branch in our town.

I decided to set up the Faversham Branch in Kent and our first event was a fashion show held in a beautiful Tudor building at Shepherd Neame Brewery. My daughter, Lisa, acted as a model.

Over the years, I have held several volunteer roles within the organisation in different parts of the country, and I’m thankful that my husband has always been extremely supportive of all I do.

My children and grandchildren grew up with Save the Children, and have often helped with collections and events. They still get involved whenever they can.

I had my two children in the 60s. My daughter was born in the maternity hospital on the Isle of Sheppey. Those of us who lived on the mainland of Kent always worried that the bridge would be up when we needed to get there.

“It was wonderful to see first-hand the maternal homes and medical facilities that were built, thanks to Save the Children…”

But this is nothing compared to the women I met in Liberia during a visit with Save the Children. Women there had to walk for hours to get to the nearest clinic while in labour. Many couldn’t make it and ended up having their babies by the side of the road. It is no wonder maternal and neonatal deaths were so high. It was wonderful to see first-hand the maternal homes and medical facilities that were built, thanks to Save the Children, to support women without access to any kind of proper healthcare during their pregnancy and help ensure that their children can survive.

I will continue to support Save the Children with my time and my money, and have left them a gift in my will, so they can continue to transform the lives of vulnerable children and their families long into the future.”