Does someone you know deserve recognition for their support to people with macular disease?

The Awards for Excellence is our chance to recognise exceptional practice in the care and support of people with macular disease. It also gives us an opportunity to say thank to the volunteers whose tireless efforts make our work possible.

Nominations for this year's awards, now it their 11th year, are now open. 

This year, we will be looking for nominations in three categories: ‘Chairman’s Award for Volunteering’; ‘Clinical Service of the Year’, and ‘Optician or Optometrist of the Year’.

Pat McGeough, who was one of last year’s winners in the ‘Chairman’s Award for Volunteering’ category, will be part of the judging panel in 2019. Pat was rewarded for his commitment and dedication, fulfilling almost every volunteer role with the Macular Society in the past nine years. He joined the Society as a member after being diagnosed with macular disease in 2002. After retiring in 2009, he decided he wanted to use some of his spare time to help out as a volunteer.

Pat continues to be a Skills for Seeing and Gadget Guide trainer for the Society. He also acts as a volunteer speaker and vice-chair of his local macular support group.

He said: “It was a bit of a shock when I heard – I’d never won anything like this before. To be chosen when there are so many volunteers doing outstanding work for the Society is a real honour.

“I’m sure it’s going to be incredibly tough to pick the winners from so many deserving contenders. I’m looking forward to seeing the nominations and finding out about all the inspirational things everyone has been doing.”

You can no longer make nominations online.