Member Article

Fun run raises thousands in memory of Beryl

A group of energetic care staff have raised thousands of pounds in a sponsored fun run, led by a local businessman in memory of his wife.

Staff, residents and friends of care home Overton House, Cottingham were joined by teams from residential homes The Hollies and The Rowans, which are all operated by not for profit organisation Hica Group.

The fundraising event was arranged by local retired businessman Bernard Nuttall, whose wife, Beryl Nuttall, was a resident at Overton House. Tragically, Beryl passed away shortly before the sponsored walk was due to take place. The home raised over £2,500 in Beryl’s memory, which will be used to upgrade the garden area for the residents.

Bernard, who is 73, said: “Beryl would be so proud of how everyone came together to raise money for all of the residents. The original interest in the run was low, but we rallied everyone together and ended up with around 100 people taking part.

“The staff at the home did so much for my wife, they are very deserving of the funds. I know Beryl would want the money raised from the fun-run to go to Overton House and its gardens. The standard of care she received there was brilliant, and we couldn’t have asked for a better home for her.”

Staff also raised £250 for the company’s Shine Fund, which is used to fund activities, trips and extra equipment which aids the treatment of the symptoms of dementia. The company recently used its Shine Fund to purchase two RemPods including a 1950s kitchen and a classic pub to provide new and effective ways to tackle the symptoms of dementia. The pods had such a positive impact on residents that the group now wants to add as many as possible to its collection.

Hica Group chief executive, Penni Brown, said: “The fun run in Cottingham attracted a lot of interest, thanks to Bernard and the staff from the homes. They really did do Beryl proud and I am sure she would have been very proud of the Overton House family and her husband.

“The money raised will go towards the resident’s favourite place – the garden area. The money raised for the Shine Fund was fantastic too. The fund is very important to us as it provides opportunities for residents, including day trips, entertainment and enriching activities. We use it to purchase items like RemPods which help to ease the symptoms of dementia through familiar surroundings.”

The Hica Group operates a portfolio of 19 residential care homes, five of which are for people with a learning disability, along with two retirement villages. The company also runs a home care service providing approximately 11,500 hours of support and care from four regional offices in the North of England.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Hica Group .