Care home residents cycle the world for local hospice

Residents at a care home in Aylesbury have been cycling around the world in March for their local hospice charity’s Covid-19 crisis appeal.

Five of Avondale Care Home’s residents, one of whom is 99 years old, have been cycling one mile each day through virtual destinations using their Technogym arm cycling machine. They’ve revisited places they have visited in person and those they would like to see including Iceland, St Lucia, Thailand and Rome.  By the end of March, they will have cycled a combined total of 30 miles with home manager, Shaun Canavan, completing the remaining one mile on 31^st March.

The daily miles are being documented on the home’s YouTube channel enabling family and friends, who have not been able to visit in person, to watch from anywhere in the world.  The regular use of the arm cycling machine has also seen the residents get quicker and quicker over the month.

Home manager, Shaun Canavan, who will be completing the last mile, said: “I am so impressed by the generosity and determination of my residents who have undertaken this challenge with so much enthusiasm. Helping those in our community, such as the hospice, is important to us and we can’t wait to reveal how much we have raised once the fundraising concludes at the end of the month.”

The care home chose to support Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity in response to the Charity’s crisis appeal which was launched in January.  The Charity is facing a £1million shortfall in income as a result of the Covid-19 restrictions in place over the past year.

“We are so grateful to all the residents for their efforts to travel the world for us this month and to everyone who has supported them to raise almost £2,000 for the Charity.  This year has been the hardest in the Charity’s history and our local community have been fantastic in their response to our appeal.  We have been truly inspired by everyone taking part in this amazing challenge.”