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Why I joined the People Bank
I joined the People Bank in 2006. I’d noticed an article on the website about the role of the People Bank, requesting volunteers to join. At the time I felt a need to share my arthritis experiences with others. I also wanted to explain how I was dealing with my arthritis. I had had both hips replaced a couple of years earlier and, following treatment for several other medical conditions, I was feeling very good about myself and wanted to share that.
Having been involved with the discussion forum and read the members problems, I understood the need to share experiences. However I felt that it was a bit forward of me to start sharing my experiences on the forum. The opportunity to join the People Bank and have someone ask me about arthritis and how I was dealing with it was the ideal solution.
So what do I get out of being a People Bank volunteer?
My name in lights! Not really. It’s about the satisfaction of thinking that maybe there is someone reading about my problems, how I’ve dealt with them and how I deal with the problems that arthritis throws at me on a daily basis and maybe taking something from it.
What I like about the People Bank is that I am always contacted beforehand, told what the subject is, giving me time to get my head around it, and asked if I’d like to contribute. The atmosphere between the researcher and myself is always friendly and relaxed. I do not feel under pressure to give answers that I feel uncomfortable with. The interview is about me and how I deal with that particular topic; it’s never intrusive. I always find the experience very pleasant and never too time consuming.
You should join the People Bank because ...
Other people should join the People Bank because they can share their ideas, tips and problems with other people who have arthritis. Even sharing the setbacks and disappointments and how you’ve dealt with it can help someone else. There is someone out there with the same problem but maybe not the answer – by being on the People Bank you may be able to help that person find that answer.
