Health Hero: Karen Fisher

A 57-year-old business analyst with AMP, Karen Fisher is looking forward to retirement. “Then I can volunteer more often!” she beams. Fisher dedicates her spare time to a number of charities, but it’s the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia (CCIA) to which she gives one day of every working week. “CCIA is the only medical-research institute in Australia that looks specifically into childhood cancer,” she says. “And children are our future.” Thanks to AMP’s flexibility and support for staff volunteering, Fisher works four days a week and joins the CCIA marketing department on the fifth. “While so much has been achieved, and seven out of 10 children now survive cancer, what about the other three?” she asks. “CCIA’s reason for being is to see that 10 out of 10 children survive. I’ve had a fortunate life and needed a transition into retirement, so I rang the volunteer coordinator and created a place for myself here.” Amid charity balls and trivia nights, Fisher assists with office administration, mail sorting and “whatever it takes” to raise funds for CCIA research. “Regardless of what you do as a volunteer, you are so appreciated,” she says, “and you get to see that, despite the global financial crisis, people are so generous.” Fisher’s advice for anyone considering volunteer work? Go to Seek Volunteer (volunteer.com.au).

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