A WOODSTOCK resident who helped set up support groups for people with a common eye condition is to receive a national award.

Daphne Dorman, 83, is to receive the chairman’s award for volunteering at the Macular Society’s Awards for Excellence.

She was moved to start the support groups after she was diagnosed in her right eye with age-related macular degeneration, which causes lack of central vision, in 1989.

The Oxford group was founded in 1992 and later started groups in Abingdon, Kidlington and Banbury. The four now support more than 150 people.

She said: “I feel extremely honoured. I just felt like I wanted to help other people where I can.

“The society had only just been formed in 1987, so in 1992 I got in touch with them and they sent me a list of members. There weren’t very many at that stage when we started a group in my house.”

The Oxford group – which has about 70 members – meets four times a year at North Oxford Community Centre, Summertown.

It has specialist speakers and gives advice such as information about aids like magnifying glasses and benefits that can be applied for.

Miss Dorman said: “For some people it is very traumatic.

“For me it wasn’t so bad because I had always been short-sighted.

“I wore glasses for 60 years, then I had a cataract operation which transformed my one eye for a few years.”

The condition affected her left eye in 2008 and she is now registered blind.

The former secretary of St Catherine’s College said: “It is blurred. I can still manage in my own house and get around places I know quite well.

“I am lucky in Woodstock as we have a good bus service. Some are not so lucky.”

Woodstock group member Priscilla Rees nominated her and said: “Daphne Dorman’s sustained commitment to the community over many years has been exceptional.

“As the group leader for the Oxford Macular Society support group she has single-handedly run it for over 20 years, despite her own degenerating vision.

“In this period Daphne has helped over 1,000 people, providing advice and support, including when some were at their lowest ebb.

“Daphne’s dedication is remarkable.”

Miss Dorman will be presented with the award – one of four – at the society’s annual conference at London’s Park Plaza Victoria on September 27.

Chief executive of the Macular Society, Tony Rucinski, said: “Daphne is a real inspiration and has done so well to win this award.

“We are incredibly grateful to her for the fantastic work carried out in and around Oxford.”

 

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