Care Home Residents Complete 500 Mile ‘Tour de Manchester’ Sponsored Cycle

Staff and residents at De Brook Lodge care home, operated by Ideal Carehomes, have hosted a month-long cycling extravaganza, racking up an impressive 500 miles on stationary bikes to raise funds to purchase an interactive activities table.

Staff and residents at the care home, located on Irlam Road in Flixton, played their part to achieve the remarkable mileage, after residents decided to challenge themselves with the impressive cycling challenge during their monthly social meetings.

Lifestyle Manager, Danielle Aikenhead, organised the event and even included residents from neighbouring Ideal Carehomes in the fun. Residents from neighbouring care homes including Ash Tree House in Wigan, sent videos of encouragement, waving from their windows and gardens wishing the De Brook Lodge cyclists good luck.

Using stationary foot pedal machines with built-in pedometers to track their progress, residents could complete their ‘Tour de Manchester’ cycle from the comfort of their armchairs.
Staff created a mileage counter which was proudly displayed in the social lounge and updated each day with the latest total distance travelled.

The De Brook Lodge residents were keen to get cycling as a way to stay fit and active. De Brook Lodge, Rosemary Turner, said, ‘The cycling challenge has been marvellous! It has been brilliant seeing our cycling team getting so involved, I was so glad to be able to take part and add some distance to our tracker on behalf of my home. I also loved seeing residents from other care homes, it really gave us a boost to continue after hearing their messages!’.

Lifestyle Manager and Great British Care Award regional finalist, Danielle Aikenhead, said, ‘I am absolutely blown away by the commitment of our team and residents to achieve 500 miles. Everyone in the team has been brilliant at planning the cycles and our residents have truly embraced it, we have seen so many friendships arise it has been lovely!

We are thrilled to have raised enough money to now purchase an interactive activities table which will help to stimulate cognitive function, improve dexterity and entertain residents through fun, targeted interactive apps – I know it’ll fit well into our activities schedule!’.

De Brook Lodge, operated by Ideal Carehomes, is a residential and dementia care home boasting a hair salon and cinema. The home is currently welcoming new residents for short and long term placements. For more information, call 0161 755 9750 or visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk