Residents walk and cycle on fundraising virtual 230-mile tour of six NI care homes

Hilary McIlreavy takes part in the virtual road trip around Northern Ireland’s six Presbyterian care homes

Residents and staff at Trinity House in Garvagh – without leaving the home – walked and cycled the 230 miles it would take to get around the PCI’s six NI care homes.

Manager Jayne Bellingham said: “As a home we have been very blessed by the support of our local community and the wider church, especially in recent weeks and months because of the pandemic.

“Given that help, twice a year since we opened 2018, we pick a project to support as a way of saying thank you.

Jayne Bellingham, manager of Trinity House in Garvagh, resting on the walkathon

“Members of staff had planned to cycle to each of the other PCI homes, to raise money and awareness for our own church’s work with residents who have dementia and the work of the Alzheimer’s Society.

“Unfortunately given the lockdown restrictions, this plan had to be shelved – but not entirely, as we decided to do an imaginary walk and ride, asking the friends and relatives of Trinity, alongside staff, to donate.”

The team worked out that it took approximately 200 steps for the average resident to walk around the home, with 10 circuits equalling a mile.

They measured the round trip from Trinity House to Corkey House in north Belfast, Adelaide House in south Belfast, Sunnyside House in Bangor, River House in Newcastle, Harold McCauley Residential Nursing Home in Omagh, and back to Garvagh as 230 miles.

Jayne said: “We also worked out that the average person could cycle for about eight minutes to make one mile, but we increased this a little to 10 minutes per mile to take the pressure off.

“Residents really got into it, with everyone taking part as it pleased them, adding their miles to a communal chart.

“Residents had their own exercise bike, which they loved, timing one another and egging each other on to go that bit further. They also organised their own walking group to complete the miles.

“With staff running around the home daily, clocking five miles on any given shift, it took us all two weeks, cycling 35 miles and walking 194.

“In the end, we raised £1,500, which was a tremendous result, and we all had a lot of fun doing it.”

Denise Keagan, head of older people’s services for PCI, said: “Trinity’s ‘road trip’ is just one of the many creative ways I have seen, along with BBQs, scavenger hunts and a virtual garden competition, to stimulate everyone and get a bit of craic going, all of which has allowed residents to continue to feel connected and healthy, both mentally and physically.”