Care Home’s Rainbow Celebration Rounds Off Year Of Help For Children’s Charity
A rainbow-themed party was the perfect way to celebrate a year of fundraising by care home residents and staff in aid of a Dorset children’s charity.
The highlight of the multi-coloured get-together at Colten Care’s Avon Cliff in Bournemouth was the handover of a cheque for £2,251.85 to Amelia’s Rainbow.
Avon Cliff residents and team members raised the sum by hosting fetes, raffles, a Christmas market and other events at the home.
Two Companionship Team members, team leader Elise Woolnough and colleague Paulina Trzcinska, also took part in the Bournemouth Fun Run, boosted by sponsorship from residents, colleagues, families and friends.
Under the charity policy across all 21 Colten Care homes, it is always the residents’ choice as to which causes to support each year.
Avon Cliff residents opted for Amelia’s Rainbow in both of the past two years after they heard it had provided comfort to Paulina’s son Adam when he was diagnosed with cancer as a toddler.
Altogether, the home has raised around £3,500 to help the charity’s work with local children who, like Adam, have experience of serious and complex chronic conditions.
A key aim is to help them and their families have fun through the tough times on trips, days out, leisure activities and items that enhance learning and enjoyment.
Discussing the work of the charity at the handover party, manager Farah Batchelor told residents that some of the money they have raised will go towards the renovation of the charity’s chalet on the Rockley Park holiday park in Poole for children and families to use.
Avon Cliff resident Edie Crowley said: “We’ve really enjoyed being involved in raising money for Amelia’s Rainbow and we thank Farah for coming in to see us and explaining how the money is used.”
As well as donning rainbow-style wrist and headbands, party goers tucked into a ‘rainbow cake’ specially prepared for the occasion by the Avon Cliff residents’ cooking club.
Elise said: “Our celebration party was the ideal way to round off our support for Amelia’s Rainbow, especially the tremendous sum our residents and staff have raised over the past twelve months.”
