Your Champions: Richard Price nominated for Champion of the Year

Aug 13 2009 by Mark Dowling, Chester Chronicle

A CHARITABLE volunteer who has been helping people in need for 30 years has been nominated for a Your Champions award.

Richard Price, of Acres Lane in Upton, is a Samaritan volunteer and is in line for the Your Champions Champion of the Year.

Richard said: “I do a four-hour shift every week, looking after two emergency phones, responding to emails and, as part of a pilot scheme, text messages. We also see visitors who come into our Chester and District Samaritans office face-to-face.

“We talk to anybody and everybody we can and help explore their feelings and answer their problems.

“I go there because we make a difference, and people turn away from committing suicide.

“We offer a listening and empathetic ear, giving someone space and time to think where they are at.

“It can hurt but we never lose sight of why we’re there.”

His wife Ann Price, who nominated Richard, said: “He is the most caring, patient man you can always rely on.

“He is always fighting for the underdog, for affected kids, battling on for those after others have given up on them.

“He has nursed me through breast cancer, and has fostered children down the years.”