Woodgate care home staff shave their heads for The Wish Appeal

Two staff members at Woodgate Residential Home, are shaving their heads to raise money for The Wish Appeal, an exciting fundraising initiative created by The Abbeyfield Kent Society, a charity and care provider.

The two brave ladies, Leah Gale and Cheryl Poyner, are shaving their heads on 1 September 2015 to raise money for the appeal, which grants wishes for residents living in The Abbeyfield Kent Society’s care homes across the county.

Activities co-ordinator at Woodgate Residential Home, Leah Gale said: “I’m not nervous, I just want to do it and get it over with now, and I’d been thinking about it for a while and in a moment of madness, we decided to do it.”

Senior care worker at the home, Cheryl Poyner, added: “If it can make a wish come true for one of our residents, it is totally worth it.

“We took one of our former residents, Esme, to the beach as part of The Wish Appeal, she has since passed away but it was so wonderful that she got her wish.”

Ms Gale and Ms Poyner have both received mixed reactions from their colleagues, residents and their family and friends, however despite thinking they are mad, most people are very supportive.

Ms Gale added: “We are passionate about this because we’ve seen what the appeal can do and the amazing memories it can make.

“We took one resident, Gladys, to the beach with her sons, she doesn’t usually communicate but she was singing when she came back, it’s just a really worthwhile cause.”

The Abbeyfield Kent Society is a leading provider of residential care for older people living with physical frailty, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

The care provider recognises that as people grow older, extravagant possessions are not desired and while some may dream of winning the lottery and travelling the world, older people may simply yearn for a meal at their favourite restaurant, a walk in the park or a day at the beach.

The Wish Appeal aims to grant those wishes for residents living in Abbeyfield Kent’s care.

To support the fundraising event, donations can be made at: www.justgiving.com/leah-gale1