Soraya Kelly's Story
‘Early detection saved my life’ – A volunteering story about turning pain into purpose
In October 2017, I was diagnosed with breast cancer—a life-changing moment that brought both fear and clarity. Early detection saved my life, and that experience sparked something within me.
I founded The Gloves Are On campaign to raise awareness about early cancer detection and to help break the stigma surrounding the illness. What started as a personal journey of advocacy quickly grew into something much larger: a registered charity that supports children, young people, and families through education, guidance, and financial assistance.
Through the charity, I’ve witnessed countless heart-warming transformations that remind me why this work is so important. A story that always stays with me is from our Unite4Youth employment project. Several young people, who had faced significant barriers in life, shared how the part-time paid opportunities we provided helped them secure full-time employment. This gave them not only financial stability but also a newfound sense of confidence and belonging. Their gratitude was palpable, and it reinforced my belief that when we invest in people, we empower them to overcome even the greatest challenges.
Growing up in a deprived area with high unemployment and facing my own disability, I understand the barriers that can hold people back. These experiences drive my passion to support disadvantaged groups and provide opportunities for young people to excel. Whether it’s funding a child’s school uniform, sponsoring a young athlete, or offering a platform for youth voices, The Gloves Are On is proof that when communities come together, amazing things happen.
As a result of my volunteering, I’ve had the honour of receiving several incredible recognitions. In 2020, I was awarded Hello! magazine’s Star Mum of the Year award, a moment that filled me with immense pride. Two years later, in 2022, I was rewarded by Mary Berry, Roman Kemp, and Tom Wilson with a wonderful afternoon tea in recognition of my work. This special event, featured on one of Mary Berry’s Festive Feast programs, was made even more meaningful because three of my charity’s Ambassadors assisted with baking the delicious treats for me and 12 of my guests.
Last year, I was also deeply honoured to receive the Welsh Charities Volunteer of the Year award, another milestone that highlights the importance of volunteering and community support.
I was humbled to attend the King’s Garden Party at the Palace, an invitation I received in recognition of my volunteering. These moments are not just personal milestones but reflections of the incredible power of community and the difference that can be made when we come together to support one another.
Volunteering has changed my life in profound ways. It has turned my pain into purpose, my challenges into opportunities, and my experiences into inspiration for others. I encourage anyone who’s considering volunteering to take that first step. You’ll not only help transform lives—you’ll find that your own life is enriched in ways you never imagined.
Soraya Kelly
‘Gwnaeth canfod y canser yn gynnar achub fy mywyd’ – Stori wirfoddoli am droi poen yn bwrpas
Ym mis Hydref 2017, cefais fy niagnosio â chanser y fron – ennyd a newidiodd fy mywyd, ac a ddaeth ag ofn ac eglurder i mi. Gwnaeth canfod y canser yn gynnar achub fy mywyd, a thaniodd y profiad hwnnw rywbeth o’m mewn i.
Sefydlais yr ymgyrch The Gloves Are On i godi ymwybyddiaeth o ganfod canser yn gynnar a helpu i gael gwared â’r stigma o gwmpas y salwch. Gwnaeth yr hyn a ddechreuodd fel taith gefnogi bersonol dyfu’n gyflym i fod yn rhywbeth llawer mwy: elusen gofrestredig sy’n cefnogi plant, pobl ifanc a theuluoedd drwy gynnig addysg, arweiniad a chymorth ariannol.
Trwy’r elusen, rwyf wedi gweld nifer di-ri o drawsnewidiadau twymgalon sy’n fy atgoffa o pam mae’r gwaith hwn mor bwysig. Un stori sy’n fyw yn fy nghof yw’r un o brosiect cyflogaeth Unite4Youth. Gwnaeth nifer o bobl ifanc a oedd wedi wynebu rhwystrau sylweddol mewn bywyd rannu sut gwnaeth y cyfleoedd rhan-amser â thâl y gwnaethom ni eu darparu eu helpu i gael cyflogaeth amser llawn. Gwnaeth hyn nid yn unig roi sefydlogrwydd ariannol iddynt, ond hefyd ymdeimlad newydd o hyder a pherthyn. Roedd eu diolchgarwch yn amlwg, ac atgyfnerthodd hyn fy nghred, sef pan fyddwn ni’n buddsoddi mewn pobl, rydym yn eu grymuso i oresgyn hyd yn oed yr heriau mwyaf.
Wedi fy magu mewn ardal ddifreintiedig gyda chyfradd uchel o ddiweithdra ac yn wynebu fy anabledd fy hun, rwy’n deall y rhwystrau a all ddal pobl yn ôl. Y profiadau hyn sy’n gyrru fy mrwdfrydedd i gefnogi grwpiau dan anfantais a chynnig cyfleoedd i bobl ifanc ragori. Waeth a yw’n cyllido gwisg ysgol plentyn, noddi athletwr ifanc neu’n cynnig platfform ar gyfer lleisiau ieuenctid, mae The Gloves Are On yn brawf o’r pethau gwych a all ddigwydd pan fydd cymunedau yn dod ynghyd.
O ganlyniad i’m gwirfoddoli, cefais y fraint o dderbyn nifer o gydnabyddiaethau anhygoel. Yn 2020, enillais wobr Star Mum of the Year gyda chylchgrawn Hello!, rhywbeth a ddaeth â balchder anferthol i mi. Dwy flynedd yn ddiweddarach, yn 2022, enillais de prynhawn campus gan Mary Berry, Roman Kemp a Tom Wilson mewn cydnabyddiaeth am fy ngwaith. Gwnaeth y digwyddiad arbennig hwn ymddangos ar un o raglenni Festive Feast Mary Berry, a’r hyn a’i wnaeth yn fwy ystyrlon fyth oedd bod tri o Lysgenhadon fy elusen wedi helpu i goginio’r danteithion blasus i mi a 12 o’m gwesteion.
Y llynedd, roedd hefyd yn fraint o’r mwyaf i dderbyn gwobr Gwirfoddolwr y Flwyddyn Elusennau Cymru, carreg filltir arall sy’n amlygu pwysigrwydd gwirfoddoli a chymorth cymunedol.
Roedd yn anrhydedd mynychu Garddwest y Brenin yn y Palas, gwahoddiad a dderbyniais mewn cydnabyddiaeth o’m gwirfoddoli. Nid dim ond cerrig milltir personol mo’r adegau hyn; maen nhw’n adlewyrchiadau o bŵer anhygoel cymuned a’r gwahaniaeth y gellir ei wneud pan fyddwn ni i gyd yn dod ynghyd i gefnogi ein gilydd.
Mae gwirfoddoli wedi newid fy mywyd mewn ffyrdd dwfn. Mae wedi troi fy mhoen yn bwrpas, fy heriau’n gyfleoedd, a’m mhrofiadau yn ysbrydoliaeth i bobl eraill. Byddwn i’n annog unrhyw un sy’n ystyried gwirfoddoli i gymryd y cam cyntaf. Yn ogystal â thrawsnewid bywydau, byddwch hefyd yn canfod bod eich bywyd eich hun yn cael ei gyfoethogi mewn ffyrdd na ellir eu dychmygu.