Going the Extra Mile for The Care Workers Charity 2019
This year’s Care Workers Charity theme was ‘Go the Extra Mile’: be that running, jumping, skipping, walking or even dancing! From sponsored walks outside to cycling on stationary bikes, our homes did a great job at raising as much as possible for The Care Workers Charity as they completed the miles on Tuesday 30th July, despite some rather wet weather.
Some staff from our homes also got involved with the charity’s 2019 Snowdon Trek. Taking the treacherous route to the top of the mountain, our team of intrepid trekkers from across our care homes (including staff from Derby Heights, Hawthorns in Aldridge, Hinckley House, Highcliffe, Merlin Court, Silvermere and the Group Support Centre) managed to raise an additional £3,959, bringing our final total to an incredible £10,307.66!
Here is Richard Muncaster, CEO of the CWC, accepting our fundraising total with Home Manager Angela Roughton and staff at Glenmoor House Care Home in Corby and our Commercial Director Mark Danis.
Richard said “It has been outstanding to see the contribution and commitment of Avery in supporting our Going the Extra Mile events over the past three years. In 2019 Avery sponsored the national campaign and hosted the most events for any care group, raising a spectacular £10,307.66. With demands for our grants higher than ever, we cannot express how vital and important donations like this are, a huge thank you to the whole team”.
Click through our Facebook photos below to see all we got up to at our Go the Extra Mile Events:
Rowan Court decided to cycle their way around Westport Lake with their residents, families and staff with specially designed, wheelchair-friendly bikes from the Green Door – Cycle Hire and Community Activities charity. Despite the pouring rain, everyone was eager to get their miles in, so donned waterproof ponchos and pedalled away. Resident Kathleen Lewis was exceptionally happy! After riding around with Gemma (Deputy Manager), she said “I haven’t ridden a bike for over 40 years. I didn’t think I’d do it again, but thanks to all the staff involved on the day it was a wonderful experience.” Lisa Jones, a Nurse at Rowan Court, said “I rode around the lake with Margaret and I thought it was an excellent way to spend quality time with our residents, it was amazing. When can we do it again?” The home also had a sponsored walk, with staff dressed in bright orange cones, and our Head of Dementia Care, Jo Crossland, and Dementia Support Advisor, Heather Perkins, were put through their paces on the stationary bike.
The rain didn’t stop residents at Acorn Lodge Care Home either! Resident Gwen was pushed a mile around the Nuneaton Riversley Park athletics track, gathering a small crowd of supporters as she did so, and Betty was determined to walk a mile around the perimeter of the home even in the heavy rain. The home also got creative, with knitters Val, Barbara, Pat and Christine having spent the past few months knitting a mile of yarn into a giant scarf which was hung around the garden.
Our York based care home, Amarna House, fared better weather and enjoyed a giant conga line of residents, staff and family, who proudly marched around their home in colourful feather boas. After all that exercise, they had great fun sponsoring their Home Manager Linda Donnellan-Beevers to wash cars to raise even more money for The Care Workers Charity. Similarly, Acer House got into the mood with a silent disco and dress up, which they then took to the streets of Weston-super-Mare, leaving behind them a trail of smiles!
In a typical display of good humour, residents at Birchmere House exclaimed that “If we are going to exercise, we want to have a laugh whilst doing so!”. The home arranged several short ‘Dancing with Giggles’ sessions throughout the day. It was an open invitation for residents, family members, visitors and all staff to take part before the home was entertained with an Elvis impersonator. One resident said “How funny watching our carers trying to dance and exercise from a chair. I’d pay to see that again!”.
Thank you, everyone, for joining in with our Go The Extra Mile events and raising so much for this great charity. Last year at our cocktail parties, our homes joined in with going the extra mile for the CWC as part of our annual Big Event Days. Fingers crossed that next year we get better weather and raise even more!
