Volunteer Spotlight
McArdle Family
Hannah, Colin, and Christine McArdle
Photo by Keith E. Jacobson, Courtesy of Brookline Tab
Volunteering is a family affair for husband and wife, Colin and Christine McArdle, and daughter Hannah McArdle. The McArdles utilize their talents in a variety of ways at the Brookline MRC, but they share a common interest: a willingness to learn new skills and provide strong leadership in their community.
Christine McArdle was the first of the family to volunteer when the Brookline MRC was founded in 2002, after she had participated in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. She traveled to Cape Cod during the fall of 2005 to aid Katrina evacuees by staffing the medical clinic office. She finds that one of the most enjoyable aspects of volunteering is learning new skills, then applying them. Christine says, “I have enjoyed the speakers that have come and the feeling that I could be helpful if needed. The skills are applicable anywhere, not just in Brookline. I actually enjoy hearing about the planning and logistics, and it is comforting to know that there are plans in place for a variety of situations.”
Christine received her PhD from Glasgow University in Scotland, where she worked in medical research before coming to the U.S. in 1976. She served as one of the founding members of Brookline’s Solid Waste Committee. Although Christine jokes about such a title, claiming it sounds less than glamorous, she feels it has been one of her greatest life accomplishments. When asked why she felt this way, Christine said, “It has been gratifying to see Brookline’s waste management progress from a ‘drop off’ program once a month to a curbside recycling program.”
Another achievement cited by Christine was running the Boston Marathon, “albeit,” she says lightheartedly, “unofficially and slowly.” Christine encourages others to volunteer for the MRC and suggests that, “people should sign up. No one will come knocking at your door if you decide not to continue.”
Christine’s husband, Colin, who began volunteering six months ago, had this to say about his experience with Brookline MRC, “It feels good to play a role in the community. It gives me a background to work with on how to deal with complex problems like an epidemic.” Colin enjoys working collaboratively with fellow volunteers and adding new skills to his medical background. Colin studied as a medical doctor in London and Edinburgh, and today he is a radiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess. One of his greatest life accomplishments was beating the famous four-time Boston Marathon runner of the 1970’s, Bill Rogers, on an indoor track. Colin is also proud that he was able to run the mile at 4.59, an impressive feat at the age of sixty.
The time and effort that the McArdle family have contributed to the Brookline MRC would be incomplete without the experience and expertise of their daughter, Hannah McArdle. Hannah has volunteered the last three months and is now part of the growing number of local volunteers, adding to Brookline’s 148-member agency. She is pleased by the diversity of skills MRC members bring to the experience: ”While many people involved are in the healthcare system, it is such a wide cross section of the medical field, that everyone brings a different perspective to the table.” Hannah adds, “It is fascinating to listen to all the ideas people have and then compiling them together to see them work in a different manner.”
Hannah has a diverse medical background. She is currently a licensed medical sonographer, otherwise known as an ultrasound tech, and is responsible for taking ultrasonic images of everything from babies, to blood vessels, to transplanted organs. Hannah is also a licensed EMT basic and a Wilderness EMT. Wilderness EMT’s provide medical assistance to people injured in remote locations, such as mountains. When asked what advice she would give to individuals considering volunteerism as an activity, Hannah said, “Go for it. Even if you just go to one meeting, it is worth it. One of the things that you hear repeatedly when disaster hits is people saying, ‘I wish I could help.’ MRC will show you how you can help.”
The McArdles are one of the hundreds of families throughout the U.S. dedicating their time and efforts to the goals and objectives of the Medical Reserve Corps. Because of their hard work and commitment, MRCs are able to carry out their day-to-day functions and help people during times of need.
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