Bumble’s Red Nose Day Visit Creates Buzz for Care Home Cyclists

A giant bee with a big red nose and smile joined a hive of activity at a New Forest care home, all in a good cause.

Bumble, the mascot of young carers’ charity Honey Pot, had an arranged ‘sleepover’ at Colten Care’s Woodpeckers in Brockenhurst ahead of a Red Nose Day bike challenge.

Team members doing the six-hour continuous ride on an exercise bike in reception dubbed it the ‘Bee-a-thon’ after welcoming Bumble on board.

Residents at the home stopped to cheer on and lend support to the cyclists as they clocked up a distance of more than 100 miles.

The first shift was completed by Companionship Team leader Jane Bunker, inside the Bumble costume.

Jane said: “I started off and by about 25 minutes in I was really feeling the strain but it was fun to take part. In the end, it was a great day.”

Others doing shifts on the bike included Companionship Team Member Sian Harris, Home Manager Priya Joseph and volunteer Oliver Sharp.

Nurses, Healthcare Assistants and staff from Hotel Services and Gardening also took part.

Resident Maureen Miller said: “They must be mad to cycle all day but it’s lovely as it’s all for a good cause.”

The team decided to split proceeds from the Bee-a-thon equally between Honey Pot and Red Nose Day itself.

More than £350 was raised, with residents, colleagues and visitors placing donations in a collection box by the bike.

Honeypot, based near Beaulieu in the New Forest, helps youngsters aged from five to 12 whose childhoods are impacted by having to take on care roles in their families.

Support includes respite stays at Honeypot House in Exbury and visits from a specially adapted mobile playbus.

Among other Colten Care homes, Red Nose Day fun included games and a cake sale at Kingfishers in New Milton and a football match complete with a giant inflatable red nose ball at Brook View in West Moors.