JOHN GETS ON HIS BIKE FOR CHARITY

Bield Housing And Care Press releases

02-aug-bield-bikeA keen cyclist has undertaken a three-day bike ride to raise funds for the charity caring for his aunt.

John Halliday, from Aberdeen, cycled 220 miles from Tongue to Torridon, raising £2,000 for Bield’s St Andrews Court care home in Uphall, West Lothian.

John’s aunt, Yvonne Condie, was diagnosed with dementia several years ago and lives at St Andrews Court, which provides specialist dementia care for eight residents.

Bield is Scotland’s leading provider of housing, care and community services for older people and charity fundraising is key to the important work it does.

John said of St Andrews Court and Bield: “They run a fantastic service and I am so impressed by the specialised care Aunty Yvonne gets. I’ll definitely get involved with more fundraising for them in the future.

“The donated money supports activities for the care users, materials and training for volunteers. My Aunt takes part in regular activities and trips and is engaged in this community. It brings a new sense of life back to her.”

John is no stranger to the bike or these distances. The 35-year-old pedals for pounds and is regularly out making money for charities.

Challenge

He said: “We pretty much do a cycle of similar distance every year and have done for the last eight years.

“To get ready for the cycle, I just get out on the bike and put in as many miles as I can. But no matter how often I do it or how much I train it’s still a challenge. This year’s route was particularly hard-going with the hills and the traffic on the roads.

“It helped having support from my friends and family along the way as well as from the people we met in the B&Bs and restaurants. They donated to the charity and welcomed us.”

John cycled with Jamie Fretwell, Steven Birnie, Steph Letford and Frank Knox.

Kevin Rowe, Fundraiser at Bield, said: “This is a brilliant effort from John and the money raised will make a huge difference to the lives of the older people we look after at St Andrews Court.

“Individual donations including sponsored events like these allow us to provide life-enhancing services and opportunities such as outings and social activities so those in our care can continue to live life to the full.”

Brian Logan, Bield’s Chief Executive said: “Recognising the role of fundraisers is very important as they play a crucial role within Bield.

“We hope that more people will get involved with fundraising as it is of utmost importance to Bield and its residents.”

The money raised will go to provide outings and social activities for the care users and to purchase new garden furniture and plants so they can enjoy the summer.

Bield is Scotland’s leading provider of housing, care and community services for older people. Bield’s philosophy is “Free to Be”, meaning people in its care control their life while being given the support necessary to do so.

Bield is a registered charity which has grown from humble beginnings, starting out with one housing development in Bo’ness in 1971, to becoming a major provider of a wide range of housing and services for around 20,000 older people across 22 local authority areas.