Inspiring Aberdeenshire name Morag Lightning as most inspiring volunteer
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The winners of the 2022 Inspiring Aberdeenshire awards have been announced, with Turriff's Morag Lightning awarded Inspirational Volunteer 2022.
Inspiring Aberdeenshire are council-run awards, designed to celebrate the success of people across Aberdeenshire and shine a spotlight on the work they do to keep their communities thriving.
It is often the case that the nominees in these awards receive very little recognition otherwise for their great work and are true community heroes.
Winner Morag suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, diagnosed following her deployment to the Iraq war in 2003 and two subsequent tours of duty in Afghanistan.
Since being discharged she has immersed herself into the Turriff community, striving to make it a better place for all.
Her list of volunteering work is vast.
She has set up various committees and groups, is a founding member of Friends of Turriff Cemetery and a member of the local Crafty Wednesday group.
She has been fundraising for a memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum for the Women’s Royal Air Force, is also a local ambassador for Op Spartan (a worldwide group of veterans, who work together to help veterans in need), is part of the Haughs Redevelopment group, the Turriff Sports Hub, the Jubilee Yarnbombers and, until recently, Turriff and District Community Council.
Morag really is a Turriff champion, a community champion and someone to look up to.
Other finalists in the inspirational volunteer category were Inverurie fundraiser Willie Linklater, Luthermuir's Lesley Paul and Inverurie-based Grampian Opportunities.
Finalists were nominated earlier this year, before judges met to pick their winners.
Winners will be invited to a special civic reception being held in November to celebrate their successes.
