Care Home Residents Walk to Windsor to Help Hospice
Residents of a care home strode the equivalent distance from Poole to Windsor Castle to raise money for a local hospice.
Colten Care dedicated dementia home The Aldbury launched the fundraiser to support Forest Holme Hospice in Poole.
Melissa Siat of the home’s companionship team explained:
“Forest Holme Hospice is our charity of the year and the residents wanted to raise some money for its amazing work whilst also enjoying some quality time outside together. So, we would set ourselves a walking challenge to try to walk the 93.25 miles from The Aldbury to Windsor Castle.”
The month-long challenge entailed companions and residents walking for 30 minutes each day.
Sometimes this was split into separate 10-minute walks morning, afternoon and evening and while the majority of the walks were taken outside in the home’s lovely garden, rainy day walks also took place inside.
Melissa said:
“Just 30 minutes’ exercise a day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat, and boost muscle power and endurance and I’d say we are all feeling fitter, certainly.
“Most of our residents have had a pedometer to monitor their exercise routine and have loved being able to proudly track how many steps they have done each day.
“They have been supported in their efforts through sponsorship from friends, relatives and staff and we have also excitedly charted our progress each week on a map of the British Isles.”
Resident Abdul ‘Hobi’ Sabih said:
“I love walking and I’ve really enjoyed the challenge. Especially with Melissa and the others because we look at the flowers and chat as we go.”
Katherine Child agreed: “It’s lovely to be outside and walking and I think we all feel better for it.”
Brian Hayles said:
“It’s been interesting to have the pedometers and keep a track of how many steps we are doing. Melissa then calculates the distance in miles and we’ve amazed ourselves at just how much distance we have covered.”
The Aldbury raised a total of £160 for their efforts and companions and residents have already started thinking about their next challenge.
Melissa said:
“It’s lovely to know we have helped the hospice in its work and it has also given us the impetus to keep up our daily walking throughout the summer and beyond.”
