Date Published: 29 Jul 2019 @ 14:42 PM
Article By: Jill Rennie
Colleagues from Millennium Care Group have raised £1,000 for Dementia UK after completing a fundraising challenge in Snowdonia National Park.
Credit: Millennium UK. From left to right - Neda, Emily, Paula, Ian, Katie, Omair.
A team of seven colleagues from Norley Hall Care Home, Worthington Lake Care Home and head office based in Standish, Wigan started their descent at 6 am to make the summit. Mount Snowden is the highest mountain in Wales and its height is 1,085m.
Neda Ehtemam, group resident wellbeing lead for Millenium Care Group said: "The climb up Snowdon was an opportunity to raise funds and awareness for people living with dementia and their carers.
"It also served as a great opportunity for our residents to take part and raise the profile that people who have the condition can lead to adventurous and fun lives."
Residents Jean, Joan, CC and Arthur who all live with dementia travelled up the mountain by steam train enjoying the unbelievable views of Snowdonia. The train took one hour to reach the summit where they met with the walkers who had set off three hours prior climbing in hot temperatures.
Jean O'Brien resident from Worthington Lake care home: “It was a really good day, we got to the top. We all went, and we all did really well with it.”
The residents then presented the team with trophies that had been inscribed with a message for each walker.
'I did find it difficult, especially with the steep sections and the heat'
Credit: Millennium UK. Arthur waiting at the summit.
Ms Ehtemam said: "It was a privilege to be greeted at the top by a number of our residents who had travelled up to the summit on the scenic steam train and presented trophies to all the climbers."
Emily Fitzsimmons HR generalist for Millennium Care Group said: “We were so lucky to have picked such a glorious day to climb Snowdon, clear views of the surrounding natural beauty spurred us on all the way to the summit. The excitement of reaching the summit was made even more magical by the enthusiasm of the residents."
Katie Hitchen HR generalist for Millennium Care Group said: “I have never really completed a challenge which is physically demanding, and so I was quite nervous about the Snowden walk. I did find it difficult, especially with the steep sections and the heat, however, it was all worth it to see the sheer joy on our resident's faces and knowing how much we raised for a fantastic and significantly important cause.”
The team are now planning to climb Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, in September. This is going to be an ongoing project for Millennium Care Group and Dementia UK.