A volunteer has been shortlisted for one of the leading sight loss charity’s top national awards.

Pat Clemow, from Worthing, is one of the nominees for this year’s Macular Society Awards for Excellence.

She has been shortlisted in the chairman’s award for volunteering category for her commitment and dedication in raising awareness of macular disease and supporting people in her community with macular conditions.

Pat is the leader of the Worthing Area Macular Support Group which she has run since 2009.

The group offers information, encouragement and friendship to people with macular degeneration living in the area.

She said: “It was a real surprise to learn that I’d been shortlisted for this award.

“I’ve been a member of the Macular Society since 2007.

“I really enjoy all of the volunteer activities I’m involved in and meeting lots of interesting people.

“The group meetings are very important because they give everyone a chance to sit down and chat over a cup of tea or coffee and share their experiences.

“It makes a real difference to their lives and that’s very satisfying.”

The group meets twice a month – on the first Friday of each month at Sight Support Worthing’s headquarters in Rowlands Road and on the third Friday at Rustington Manor Hotel, Broadmark Lane, Rustington.

Pat decided to organise a second meeting after group members living in and around Rustington were having difficulties getting to Worthing.

Not wanting them to miss out, she arranged for the second meeting to take place nearer to them to ensure they could get there.

Pat is also a Skills for Seeing trainer for the charity.

Skills for Seeing trainers teach people with macular conditions to learn new techniques to help them make the most of their remaining vision.

She also runs an information and practical advice help desk at the NHS clinic for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration – it is at Goring Hall Hospital on Saturdays.

To add your support, email help@macularsociety.org.