Care home residents walk nearly 100 miles to raise money for charity

Residents of a Poole care home have walked nearly 100 miles in a month to raise money for Forest Holme Hospice.

Colten Care’s The Aldbury launched a month long fundraiser where residents were encouraged to walk the equivalent miles from Poole in Dorset to Windsor Castle in Berkshire. 

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 Siat of the home’s companionship team said: “We set ourselves a walking challenge to try to walk the 93.25 miles from The Aldbury to Windsor Castle. 

“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.” 

The Aldbury raised a total of £160 for their efforts and companions and residents have already started thinking about their next challenge. 

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.” 

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.” 

Ms Siat added: “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. 

”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.”