A HEARTWARMING video shared thousands of times online has launched a bid to find the country's most valued volunteers who touch lives without ever asking for anything in return.

National charity Room to Reward, based in Christchurch, has shared Mandy Preece’s story in a touching video as they launch their ‘100 Mandys’ campaign.

They hope to raise funds to launch a new online nomination system to reach a further 100 hidden heroes, like Mandy, who are deserving of a complimentary two-night break away.

The unique charity initiative arranges hotels to donate their unsold rooms to nominated volunteers who give up their time to make a difference.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, Mandy is a specialist end of life volunteer at Macmillan Caring Locally’s palliative care unit at Christchurch Hospital where she sits with those who are dying to provide support.

Speaking in the video, which has been shared nearly 10,000 times, Mandy, who was awarded a complimentary break by Room to Reward for her efforts, said: “One lady, her husband decided the best way he could honour his wife was to go and be with their children to make sure they had their daddy with them when the phone call came through because he knew that’s what his wife would want so I came and sat with her. I sang to her. I don’t know why.

“When the clock came around for her school pick up, she was unconscious and I said to her: ‘School pick up time now, your children will be safe. They are okay. Your husband has gone.’ And she smiled at me. She was unconscious but she turned to me, opened her eyes slightly, smiled at me, and then she died.

“I went home that evening and I said to my husband: ‘You know that ISA we’ve got, we are spending it.’

“So we have our little camper van that’s ours and that’s in honour to her because I think the way you honour people who have died, is live.”

Mandy added: "Sometimes you don’t realise what you have achieved in life until somebody says, ‘hey look what you have done’ and that is what Room to Reward gave me. Wow, I really have done something that has made a difference. The hotel was beautiful but it was the way we were treated, how we were made to feel special, that was the icing on the cake!”

Charity Director Adam Terpening said: “By donating, you are helping us recognise the amazing individuals in our society who make our world that bit nicer, our communities that bit stronger and touch our lives without asking for a thing in return. We hope that by showcasing Mandy as an example of the exceptional individuals we reach, we will be able to raise the needed funds for our new booking system.”

To support the campaign go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/roomtoreward