National fundraiser focuses the organisation on health, fitness and wellbeing
Care UK’s national fundraiser focuses the organisation on health, fitness and wellbeing Hundreds of Care UK’s care home team members, residents and their relatives have come together in a nationwide fundraising programme based around cycling and fitness to raise over £41,000 for three national charities. The centrepiece of the fundraiser was Ride800, a gruelling 800 mile, 15 day cycling challenge from Care UK’s southern-most care home in Poole to its northern-most in Aberdeen. This ride was undertaken by Andrew Knight, chief executive of residential care, Jacqui White, marketing director, and Tony Weedon, strategic programme director. Dozens of care home colleagues also rode individual stages of the route which zig-zagged across England and Scotland to visit 26 Care UK homes. Care UK’s chief executive for residential care Andrew Knight said: “This has been an incredibly rewarding experience, not without its physical and mental challenges. The day we cycled over the Pennines and through Yorkshire in atrocious weather stands out, as does quite a hairy couple of miles sharing the A1 with some enormous lorries as we crossed into Scotland. However, the warmth and energy from residents, colleagues and relatives has been incredible, as has the support from many of our corporate partners who have helped us raise this fantastic amount of money.” To support the ride, teams across Care UK undertook a variety of fundraising ventures including sponsored static bike challenges, raffles, music events and cake sales to boost the final total which will be shared between the Care Workers Charity, the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer Scotland. The Ride800 team visits also gave care home residents the chance to be part of the experience on a supported bike. This bike accommodates two riders – a driver and a passenger – and was transported around the route in the support vehicle that accompanied the Ride800 team. “One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the amount of joy that the supported bike brought to residents, relatives and colleagues,” said Jacqui White, marketing director. “Many of the residents who thought their cycling days were behind them were beaming when they came back from their ride – it was incredibly humbling and definitely inspired us on.” Each of the homes on the route staged an event themed around the cycle ride and took part in a competition to win a supported bike, based on how well they decorated a vintage bicycle and embraced the Ride800 spirit. The effort made by the homes was such that, at the end of the ride, the judges, Andrew, Jacqui and Tony, awarded bikes to three winners: · Chandler Court in Bromsgrove, where residents and colleagues raised over £1,800 via a series of intergenerational events with residents and children from the local Castle Nursery, all of which linked to the 26 locations on the Ride800 route · Tor na Dee in Aberdeen, where residents and colleagues laid on an amazing finale to the ride, with a balloon arch, a piper, visiting school children, a giant cake showing the full route and commemorative Ride800 mini bottles of scotch · The West London team, where five homes worked together to arrange a series of welcome events for the riders, ranging from a wedding to a knighthood being bestowed on Andrew Knight by one of the residents of Mountbatten Grange The fundraising efforts were supported by a wide variety of Care UK’s partners and suppliers. In particular, five companies made significant donations which helped raise the bar on the Ride800 total: CBRE, In-line Safety, ITG, Knight Frank Healthcare, RBS and Ruggles and Jeffery Tony Weedon, strategic programme director added: “We are hugely grateful to everyone who contributed to this initiative in so many ways. From residents who baked energy bars, relatives who joined in with the Ride800 events, colleagues who cycled along with us and put so much effort into fundraising, and to the companies that donated to help us reach this incredible total.” Other corporate supporters included: * 2 Pure products * McBains * Bidfood * McLeod+Aitken * Britton Price * Octopus Healthcare * carehome.co.uk * Outwood care * Carson Powell Construction Ltd * QRS market research * Circom Waste management * Shred station * Curti lifts * TVC Technology solutions * DDC Dolphin * Unigraph * Electric airwaves * Unilever Food Solutions * Foodcare * Vision! * GRI * WPR * Ian Williams Ltd
Cupcake sales raises funds to support those with cancer
A CUPCAKE sale at University Hospital of North Tees has generated £120 to support those with cancer. Staff at Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, in Peterlee, organised the sale to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Alongside selling the homemade cupcakes, they also handed out literature to raise awareness of cancer, diabetes and dementia. Home manager Lynn Chapman, senior carer Haley Grant and activities coordinators Abby Gormley and Dawn Minto all helped run the stall. The home’s cook, Carol Gingell, baked the cupcakes. Lynn said: “I would like to thank our cook Carol for the lovely cakes she baked. I would also like to thank Haley, Dawn and Abby for a great day. “This is one of the first fundraisers we are doing for our chosen charity and we have a few more surprises later in the year.” Macmillan Cancer Support is the chosen charity of the Hill Care Group, which operates Bannatyne Lodge Care Home, for 2019/20. Dozens of homes across the north of England are taking part in a year of fundraising activities, aiming to raise as much as possible for the charity. Bannatyne Lodge Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
Father Christmas helps raise over £1,000 for care home residents
FATHER Christmas made an appearance at a Chester-le-Street care home’s festive fayre – helping to raise over £1,000 for residents. The event at Pelton Grange Care Home, on Front Street, attracted dozens of visitors, including family and friends of residents and staff. Santa’s grotto, jewellery and bric-a-brac stalls, homemade Christmas cards, cakes and hotdogs all helped raise £1,016. The money will be added to the residents’ fund, which helps pay for events, activities and outings throughout the year. Resident Florence Besford said: “It’s lovely to see you, Father Christmas. Christopher Hogan-Hind, home manager at Pelton Grange Care Home, said: “A massive thank you to everyone who came along and supported our Christmas fayre. “We had a fantastic turnout and everyone had a wonderful time, including our residents, who enjoyed meeting Santa and chatting to visitors. “The support Pelton Grange Care Home gets from the community is fantastic and has helped give our festivities a great start this year.” Pelton Grange Care Home is part of the Hill Care Group. For further information visit www.hillcare.net.
