Care home staff and residents raise £7,000 for new gym

RESIDENTS and team members from a Dawlish care home took part in a walk of more than 15 miles to raise money for a new gym.

Thirty team members and four residents took part in the 15.2 mile walk from The Old Rectory nursing home in Exeter, to Sefton Hall nursing home on Plantation Terrace.

Sefton Hall’s manager, Gabriela Ogreanu said: ‘It was a very hot day and unfortunately the minibus broke down, so we only managed to take four residents instead of the eight we had planned.

‘Along the way we met two relatives of residents who had previously lived at Sefton Hall, and they both kindly made donations. Our nurses also stopped and helped a cyclist, who had fallen and needed medical attention.’

The walk took seven hours and more than £7,000 has been raised so far.

The gym will be open to team members, residents and their families.

Gabriela continued: ‘We all have sore feet, cramps, and very hot heads, but the spirits were high. Everyone was determined to finish because the team is really looking forward to getting the gym equipped.’

Exercise plays a vital role in maintaining strength, mobility, confidence and independence for older people.

The funds raised will help purchase specialist gym equipment that will allow the residents to stay active in a safe and enjoyable environment and the staff to stay fit and healthy.

The route took the walkers through Exeter city centre, down along the quay towards Dawlish.

One of the home’s activity coordinators and organiser of the sponsored walk, Lisa Burge, said: ‘This is the second time we have done this walk.

'The first time was in 2018 when residents also joined us for different sections of the walk.’

This year, Sefton Hall residents Angela Field and Wendy Staines joined the first part of the walk. Angela, who ran a guest house in Teignmouth for 21 years, stopped for a chat during a pit stop at the Double Locks pub.

She said: ‘I try and be sociable. We are doing the walk within the day and I’m joining in for a bit. We’ve been very lucky with the weather – the sky is so blue.’

Wendy, another Sefton Hall resident explained she had got up early to join the walk.

She said; ‘Someone said they would push me in the wheelchair and I said ‘okay’, so I’m in the first lot. I enjoy being outside and I’ve been promised a pasty for lunch.’

John Gary from Gay's Creamery provided 30 pasties, cakes and cream teas to the walking fundraisers.

Sefton Hall’s manager, Gabriela Ogreanu said: ‘We received a very generous donation of £5,000 from one of our relatives, who wishes to remain anonymous, and around another £1,500 from everyone else, including the staff.’