CARE homes across Tees Valley came together to raise funds for the fight against cancer – with dozens of residents, staff, and family members donating generously.
The Hill Care Group’s Briarwood Care Home, Eston, Hazelgrove Court Care Home, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Ingleby Care Home, Ingleby Barwick, Mandale House Care Home, Thornaby, and The Beeches Care Home, Stockton-on-Tees, held a joint fundraiser to support Macmillan Cancer Support.
Organised by the care homes’ activities coordinators, the event was held at St Francis Church Hall, Ingleby Barwick, and saw over 40 in attendance.
There was a tombola, raffle, bake sale, name the unicorn, and guess the number of sweets games, and a cake sale.
Ingleby Care Home resident, Mary Dawson, 83, led a singalong of “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”, “A Long Way to Tipperary”, and “Daisy Daisy”, which was then followed by numerous games of bingo.
Hazelgrove Court resident Joyce Tibbett, 89, helped sell tickets for the name the unicorn game. She said: “It’s lovely to get out and about and meet folks from other homes.
“I loved helping to sell tickets and help raise money for Macmillan.”
The Beeches residents Eric Simpson, 91, and Edith Ayre, 87, had fun chatting with residents from other care homes, including Pat Dobson, 84, and Joan Cox, 83, from Mandale House.
Edith, who won a hamper full of treats, said: “I won a massive hamper full of nice smellies.
“I’m taking these balloons back to The Beeches for everyone to play balloon tennis with as well.”
Derek Oakley, 87, from Ingleby, said: “What a lovely afternoon. It’s nice to get out and about. I won a big box of Milk Tray in the bingo. They’re my favourite.”
Jean Nossiter, 98, also from Ingleby, won the guess the number of sweets game. She said: “That’s lovely but I’ll never eat them all.”
Fellow Ingleby resident Ian Pearson, 77, said: “It’s lovely to do something for Macmillan. It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do it right. It was great to meet people who live in other care homes and have a chat with them as well.”
Kirsty Walsh, activities coordinator at Ingleby Care Home, said: “Macmillan is a charity close to all our residents’ hearts.
“It was so great to be able to hold an event that residents from all our homes in Tees Valley could get involved in. Everyone really enjoyed socialising for the afternoon.
“We raised £200 and it’s great knowing that we’re helping Macmillan in the process.
“Thank you to St Francis Church for letting us use the church hall, the team at Tesco in Yarm for the kind donations of cakes, and all the Hill Care activities coordinators for organising the event.”