Residents at a care home in Brinnington are raising money for veterans by taking part in an ambitious walking challenge. 

The residents at Cawood House have been counting their steps since 21 May, in an effort to walk the equivalent of 607 miles - the distance from Brinnington to France - to mark 80 years since D-Day (a whopping 1,321,775 steps, no less!).

The participants - some of them veterans themselves - are doing so in an effort to raise money for Walking with the Wounded, a charity aimed at 'supporting those who served'. 

One of the fundraisers is 93-year-old Bernard, a veteran of the Korean War who joined the army as a drummer (and whose skills with the sticks are still strong). 

93-year-old veteran Bernard is pictured here at Cawood House with his daughter-in-law Gail. The pair are celebrating a walking milestone, having clocked up enough steps to pass London! On the right is Bernard in his army days (Image - Borough Care)

Despite living with dementia, Bernard's memories of his time of national service are still very clear, and, as his daughter-in-law Gail said: "He's so happy to be helping out his comrades". 

Also taking part is 84-year-old Lawrence, who joined the navy when he was just 16. He too has been helping his fellow servicemen by getting the steps in!

And it's not just the residents who are taking part. Staff and visitors at Life Leisure Brinnington have been helping to clock up the miles, as have family and friends of the residents. 

Leigh Cherie Jones, activity facilitator at Cawood, came up with the idea of the big walk. As well as managing the fundraising side of things, Leigh has also been painstakingly keeping track of all the steps taken thus far, which are recorded by staff and residents on slips of paper. 

Combined with the figures coming from participants outside the home, she then converts them to miles. 

So far, the fundraiser has smashed its £607 target (one pound for every mile), with no signs of letting up. 

The aim is to raise as much money as possible by 6 June 2024, which will mark exactly 80 years since D-Day. 

Cawood resident Larry has been helping to raise money for his fellow servicemen. He is pictured on the left also, aged 16 (Image - Borough Care)

Cawood House forms part of the Borough Care estate, which comprises 12 homes across Stockport and Staffordshire. 

Each home provides specialist, tailored care to each resident, as well as home-wide activities such as this fundraiser. 

Indeed, there's a great deal going on at Cawood; garden parties, exercise classes, art courses, and even themed days; on the cards for the next few months is Benidorm day and New York day. 

Speaking more generally of the care home's aims, Leigh said: "Care does not stop at our residents - we also make sure our families feel part of Cawood house, like one big family.

"It's also keeping their independence - that's a huge thing. [...] The residents will choose what they want to wear, want to eat, want to do. They still have their own personal living space - they still need to feel like they're within their own home."

Cawood House staff have also been clocking up the miles! Leigh, activities facilitator, is pictured on the right (Image - Borough Care)

But equally, this is a community - a 'family', to use Leigh's term - offering company for the residents, and, in many cases, an important aid to memory. 

As Leigh explains: "You don't stop reminiscing - it could be that we're walking down the hall for lunch. One resident could start singing a song, and then someone else will start singing it. 

"Then, somebody else might say, 'I used to dance to that song'. And then, all of a sudden, by the time we get to the dining room, everyone is talking about how they used to go dancing with their partners. 

"Reminiscing is continuous. [...] You can start with one resident, and then all of a sudden everybody is chatting about the same thing."

Speaking similarly positively of Cawood, family member Gail said: "We were lost before we came to Cawood. [...]

"When a family member gets dementia, it feels like you've lost them [...] but here the person you love gets some of themself back.

"Fear and stress you have about how your loved one is coping - all that seems to go."

Donate to the D-Day fundraiser HERE.

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