Care provider marks 25th anniversary with 15-mile fundraising walk for new gym

Nursing home residents and team members from Southern Healthcare walked more than 15 miles to raise money for a new gym as part of the care group’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

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

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 a total of 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.”

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

One of the home’s activity coordinators and the sponsored walk organiser, 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: “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: “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.”

Southern Healthcare are also marking their 25th anniversary with a variety of different events across their four nursing homes in Exeter, Dawlish, Seaton and Plymouth including a team talent show, live musical performances and a weeklong run of 80s themed events.

Anyone wishing to donate to the gym fundraiser can do so by visiting their JustGiving fundraising page.