Care Home Manager And Residents Team Up To Complete Charity One Million Step Challenge
A care home manager and group of residents have teamed up to complete Diabetes UK’s One Million Step Challenge, successfully taking one million strides together and raising over £600 for the charity – all whilst in lockdown!
Akua Buabeng, manager at CHD Living’s The Summers care home in West Molesey, took the lead on the challenge, which saw her join forces with residents Rosie and Iris (both 88) and commit to taking one million steps over a three month period.
Successfully completing the challenge at the end of September, the team managed to raise £600 for Diabetes UK in the process – a fantastic achievement for the trio, whose movements have been limited to the care home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As a type 2 diabetic herself, it was a particularly meaningful accomplishment for Iris, who commented: “It’s been wonderful to help Akua reach one million steps, and to help raise some money for Diabetes UK at the same time. As someone who lives with diabetes myself, this is a cause very close to my heart and the challenge has certainly given me extra motivation to keep moving in recent months.”
Speaking of her reasons for taking on the challenge, Akua said: “it was all because of my residents. I have a few residents at The Summers who are diabetics, so I’ve seen first hand how it impacts their lives. Not only has the challenge motivated us to keep moving during lockdown, but the money raised will go to a fantastic cause in supporting people living with diabetes, so we are delighted!”
The Summers care home is part of CHD Living, an award-winning, family-owned and operated group of care services comprising 13 residential facilities, two specialist rehabilitation centres and a domiciliary care business across Surrey and South London.
Speaking of Akua, Rosie and Iris’ success, CHD Living’s Head of Hospitality and Communications Shaleeza Hasham said: “We’re incredibly proud of the team for completing the One Million Step Challenge. It’s always important to keep our residents motivated and active, however this has certainly been trickier in recent months with COVID-19. The challenge has given Akua, Rosie and Iris something positive to work towards and to focus on though, which has been brilliant to see!”
