Whitebourne residents play their part in gruelling 800-mile charity bike ride

Home news

May 15, 2019

Residents and team members at Whitebourne played their part in a nationwide fundraising drive last week as part of Care UK’s pledge to raise thousands of pounds for three important charities through an initiative called Ride 800.

Andrew Knight, chief executive of residential care, Jacqui White, marketing director, and Tony Weedon, strategic programme director, are visiting 26 homes as part of a gruelling 800-mile challenge.  They are spending 15 days cycling from Poole to Aberdeen – the locations of Care UK’s most southerly and northerly homes to raise money for the Care Workers Charity, the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Scotland.

The Whitebourne home team put on a warm welcome for the intrepid cyclists with hearty refreshments. They were also able to share details of their own fundraising venture

s which will be added to the overall total.  These included a collection box in the foyer for staff and relatives to contribute.

As well as hosting a celebratory event for the Ride 800 team and the fundraising venture, residents at the home have also decorated an old bicycle with a garden theme of flowers and butterflies to provide a traditional elite cycling welcome for the riders. 

Residents who wanted to relive old cycling memories were also given a chance to have a go on the supported cycle which is being transported around all of the 26 hom

es in the support vehicle that goes with the riders. Once the gruelling 800-mile ride is over, the directors will present the supported cycle to the home that they think did the best themed decorated bike. The supported cycle allows two people to cycle side by side with only one rider having to pedal.  It proved a very popular mode of transport while it was at the home.

Commenting on the residents’ involvement in Care UK’s Ride 800 initiative, Derek Purchese, Home Manager of Whitebourne care home said: “It’s not every day that your care home residents get a visit from three directors who arrive on cycles dressed head to toe in lycra!  We had a wonderful time talking to them and reliving our own memories of cycling.  I’d like to wish Jacqui, Tony and Andrew the very best for the rest of their epic journey.”

Andrew Knight said: “Even though all three of us have been putting in the training hours, I think it’s fair to say that the reality of such a challenge is becoming very real, and it’s been a true test of our endurance both mentally and physically. A big motivating factor has been the inspiring efforts of the homes we are visiting and their creativity and energies in planning special fund-raising events and activities. Residents and our colleagues are well known for their warm and friendly welcomes which has been key to keeping our motivation levels high and I’d like to say thank you to everyone in the 26 homes, and our Colchester support office, for joining in with our fundraising so enthusiastically.”

If anyone would like to sponsor the Care UK Ride 800 team, they can go to: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/CareUKRide800

The team has been publishing a regular blog as they undertake the ride – this is available via: https://www.careuk.com/care-homes/blog/ride800