Local care home crowns Wantage residents ‘Local Heroes’

 

Three Wantage residents have taken first, second and third place in a care home’s ‘Local Heroes’ competition, winning £500 collectively for their impact on the local community.

Mikayla Beames, Cynthia Bulpitt and Paige Lane were crowned ‘Local Heroes’ at Care UK’s Charlton Lodge, on Buttercup Road, and were invited to the home to receive their reward.

The ‘Local Heroes’ competition aimed to reward individuals, charities, groups or clubs that make a positive difference to the Wantage community.

Mikayla Beames, from Team Mikayla, was awarded the top prize of £300 by the team at Charlton Lodge. Since the age of four, Mikayla has been battling brain cancer, and she founded Team Mikayla in 2014. The organisation supports other children with cancer by raising funds to grant their wishes, which range from garden playhouses to trips to Peppa Pig World. Through her efforts, Mikayla has helped put smiles on the faces of hundreds of children.

Cynthia Bulpitt was awarded second prize for her contributions to the community. With the support of her husband, Martin, Cynthia has been actively helping recently housed homeless individuals start anew, by collecting essential items and white goods from the local community to aid their transition. When the war in Ukraine began, Cynthia also rallied the community and organised several truckloads of essential items, clothing, and medication to be sent to those affected in the war zone and refugee camps.

The final prize was awarded to Paige Lane, who co-organises 'J-Fest', an accessible music festival. Paige also established Bass Therapy in memory of her friend Jodie, who was profoundly disabled but had a deep love for music and attending festivals. Paige’s initiatives aim to make the events industry more inclusive.

Carla Kell, Home Manager at Charlton Lodge, said: “We all know someone in the community who goes above and beyond for others – here in Wantage, it’s Mikayla, Cynthia and Paige. 

“The nominations we received on their behalf were so heartwarming, that there was no doubt in our mind that they embodied what it means to be a local hero. The work they do is invaluable to the people of our community, and the way they have brought communities together is inspirational.

“Providing help for sick and vulnerable people is a cause that is close to our hearts here at Charlton Lodge, and we are so pleased to be able to reward local heroes who go above and beyond for their community, friends and family, and who have a positive impact on the local area. Congratulations, and a huge thank you, to all of our winners.”

Charlton Lodge is new, a state-of the-art care home providing full-time residential and dementia care, as well as short-term respite care. Designed to enable residents to live enjoyable and fulfilling lives, the home has its very own cinema, hair salon and café, along with plenty of space – both indoors and out – for relaxation and recreation.