Care home residents and staff embark on 500 mile walk to raise £10,000

Care home residents and staff at a care home in Hailsham have started a campaign to walk 500 miles on a treadmill and raise £10,000 so they can buy two digital activity tables for the home.

The team from Hailsham House Care Home has hired a treadmill and transformed one of the lounges, which is currently not in use, into a gym consisting of two treadmills, a bike and some hula hoops.

Earlier this week, Hailsham House home manager Catherine Brewster and HC-One area director Jonathan Catterwell, cut the ceremonial ribbon in the home’s new gym area where care home staff and residents will be encouraged to walk five miles a day.

Ms Brewster said: “I am just so inspired by Hailsham House, they want something and they just go out and make it happen, good on them.

“It’s great we are pulling together to do something positive after such trying times. It’s really given the home such a buzz.”

There is a sign-in sheet for the participants to show how many miles they have achieved and nearly all members of staff are taking part in the challenge and have each said they will walk the full five miles.

Resident Elizabeth Martin, also known as Betty, was one of the first people to start the walk. She was so eager to start, as soon as she stepped on the treadmill, she let out a cheer.

Another resident said: “Let’s get walking for everyone.”

So far, the team have walked around 150 miles and hope to complete their challenge in June.

Once the home has reached the £10,000 target, purchasing the two digital activity tables will allow residents more freedom and independence to video call their loved ones, play games or watch TV. The tables have also been proven to be good for memory learning, cognitive improvement and will aid sensory impairment whether working together as a group or individual tasks.

Ms Brewster added: “I’m sure it won’t be long until there is some friendly competition taking place with who can complete the most miles.”

HC-One operates over 300 care homes throughout the UK specialising in dementia, nursing, residential and specialist care for elderly people.

Hailsham House has set up a Go Fund Me page. If you would like to donate, go to https://gofund.me/514c17b2

click here for more details or to contact Hailsham House Care Home