Pudsey Bear visits care home to launch Children in Need campaign

BBC Children in Need launched its fundraising campaign ‘Do your thing’ on 5 October and urged people across the country to channel their passions and hobbies to help change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

Committed to raising money for the charity appeal, a family-owned care home in Lymington recently received a visit from Pudsey Bear to help launch a fundraising extravaganza.

The official mascot joined staff and residents at Colten Care’s Belmore Lodge to start the bike ride challenge 'cycle Pudsey home', and checked final preparations for a ‘Spot the Spotty Bus’ tour competition.

Janie Pearman, home manager at Belmore Lodge, said: "We all enjoyed Pudsey’s visit to help set us on our way with our Children in Need activities this year. It was lovely to welcome him and see the smiles on our residents’ faces.

"Our campaign offers a whole host of ways to get involved. We’ve got something for everyone. People can get active on the bikes, use their photographic skills for the bus competition or simply make a donation."

Amid some gentle rivalry, Belmore Lodge is competing with two other Colten Care Lymington homes, Court Lodge and Linden House, to see how much money they can raise.

Residents, families, friends, staff and volunteers are using stationary exercise bikes to help 'cycle Pudsey home' to the BBC studios in Manchester by Children in Need night on Friday, 18 November.

Colten Care will be live streaming the virtual 500 mile-round journey using three web cams so communities can check on progress in real time.

A Colten Care minibus has also been decorated Pudsey-style with colourful spots. As it travels around Lymington, members of the public are invited to ‘Spot the Bus’ and take a photograph.

The campaign’s grand finale is a 'black tie and diamonds' ball at Lymington Sailing Club for families and community contacts. Taking place on Children in Need night, the event includes an auction of donated items.

With more than 30 years’ experience, Colten Care is a family-owned care home company based in Lymington, Hampshire. It has 20 care homes covering Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and Sussex and offers a range of services including residential, nursing and dementia care.

Colten Care is determined to set the highest standards in all aspects of care and is committed to raising money for charitable causes. In 2015, Colten Care residents and team members raised nearly £32,000 for charity, with £4,000 going towards Children in Need.

To view the virtual bike ride, register for the Spot the Bus competition or make a donation, visit: www.coltencare.co.uk/ChildrenInNeed

click here for more details or to contact Belmore Lodge