A BARNSLEY woman who founded a charity to help dementia sufferers has been named the country's best travel organiser.
On a night celebrating the best in group travel, the 2014 Group Leisure awards ceremony presented Pam Evans of Barnsley Independent Alzheimer's and Dementia Support (BIADS) with the country's biggest award for travel organising.
Travel organisers from sports and social clubs, retired associations, special interest societies and other groups voted across 21 categories, with awards including best UK destination, best airline and best international destination presented at the annual Group Leisure magazine awards in Birmingham.
The special individual award for a group organiser went to Pam.
Pam was presented with £1,750 to use on a familiarisation holiday with the view to organising a similar trip for her group - made up of people within the Barnsley area who are affected by dementia.
After caring for a friend who developed Alzheimer's, Pam went to work for a national dementia charity, before setting up BIADS with her colleague Linda.
Arranging two holidays and two day trips each year for people with dementia and their carers, as well as various breaks and days out for former carers via BIADS' keeping in touch club; Pam's passion for her cause and commitment to organising trips impressed an expert panel of judges who selected her as the winner.
