Mel is a Process Officer with Maintenance North West.
"I’m the North West volunteer co-ordinator for Special Olympics Great Britain.
"I got involved with SOGB last April when National Grid announced the flagship partnership.
"It got my attention as I have a child with Downs Syndrome and I wanted to find out more about how his life would change as he got older. I also wanted to know what support was available for us both and taking on an active volunteering role with SOGB has truly helped me to understand what help there is out there.
"When you’re dealing with learning disabilities you have to be strong and take the lead so my experience has enhanced my leadership skills and have discovered skills which I didn’t think I had (like being able to co-ordinate activity across a large crowd of people).
"I’ll be going to SOGB’s National Games, where I’ll be helping organise the opening ceremony. It’s great that the company is prepared to match my time and enable me to get involved in such a worthwhile cause.
"I’ve found the whole experience so rewarding that I’ve taken it upon myself to co-ordinate four teams of employees from across the business to do the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for SOGB!"