HEALTH and care professionals will be celebrated at a special event on Thursday.

The South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards presentation evening will take place at Chepstow Racecourse on October 19.

Finalists from the 15 award categories will be gathering to celebrate their achievements and discover who has won each award.

One of the award categories that will be awarded is the Volunteer of the Year Award,which is sponsored by Western Power Distribution.

Responsible for distributing electricity across South Wales, the South West and the Midlands, the company employs more than 6,000 workers.

Karen Welch, corporate communications officer at Western Power Distribution said: “We are delighted to sponsor the Volunteer of the Year category in the South Wales Argus Health and Care Awards.

“We believe that companies like ours should play a full and active role in the communities they serve, and that awards initiatives are an appropriate way of recognising, encouraging and rewarding people for their hard work and for the way they inspire others.”

We received a wide range of nominations for the award.

One of the three finalists is Alan Hiatt, who volunteers at Hafan Deg ward at the Ty Sirol unit at the County Hospital in Griffithstown.

He began volunteering after the death of his wife, and she was cared for at the hospital. They asked him to come and volunteer and he has now raised in the region of £10,000 for the unit.

Charles Parish is another finalist, and is described as passionate, empathetic and understanding.

He has been asked by the director of mental health at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to attend meetings and speak and share his experience. He also encourages staff to work with the new Gwent model of mental health.

The third finalist is Sam Skelton. He gives up every Tuesday evening to help with the St John Ambulance Newport Division cadet classes and then stays on for the adult classes.

He gives up his time for every event, sometimes on both days over the weekend and during the week.

The winner of the award will be announced at the presentation event.

To find out more about the awards visit southwalesargus.co.uk/healthandcareawards/news.