Patients not forgotten at Easter

Patients not forgotten at Easter

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Ben Boekholt has volunteered with organisations throughout the Armadale area for years. Photograph - Kelly Pilgrim-Byrne.

The Salvation Army said it wanted to thank a man and his family for the support they gave to Armadale Kelmscott District Memorial Hospital patients over Easter.

Seville Grove resident Ben Boekholt and his family worked with Salvation Army to spread the Easter cheer at the hospital by handing out more than 600 chocolate eggs during the long weekend.

Mr Boekhold had also volunteered with the Armadale Lions Club, Foodbank, Armadale Police Rangers, Neighbourhood Watch and Armadale Rotary and had been doing the chocolate egg donations for more than 10 years.

He originally paid for the chocolate eggs out of his own pocket but due to changing economic conditions had required assistance from local organisations and businesses.

This year he received financial and chocolate support from Armadale/Kelmscott Lions Club, Big W Armadale, K Mart Armadale, Joanne Gladwell from Health Sleep Solutions and Veronica Hall.

Mr Boekholt said the responses he received from patients at the hospital made all the work worthwhile.

“Often I give them an Easter egg and they smile no matter what their situation,” he said.

“It feels great for me, the smiles you get back change my life.”

Mr Boekholt was awarded Armadale Citizen of the Year in January for his volunteer work with a number of organisations in the area.