TOUR DE BARCHESTER – LOCAL CARE HOME WORKERS TAKE ON CHARITY CYCLING CHALLENGE

For the third year running, staff from Barchester Healthcare’s care homes and hospitals took on a gruelling cycling challenge, this time from Johnstown in Carmarthen to Wallingford in Oxfordshire. Their aim was to raise money for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which supports older people and other adults living with a disability or mental health problems by helping them to connect or re-connect with others in their local communities.

Over four days, from June 18th to 21st, a team of Barchester staff cycled over 200 miles from Carmarthen to Oxfordshire, stopping at 14 care homes across Barchester’s Central division to meet well-wishers, have a well-earned break and refuel before continuing on their way.

On June 18 at 9.45am, the tour stopped at Plas y Dderwen Care Home in Johnstown, Carmarthen, where they were welcomed by staff and residents, along with the local Mayor and Mayoress of Carmarthen, who offered a healthy breakfast of fruit, yoghurt, milkshakes, and homemade flapjacks. The home held a sponsored Bike-a-thon throughout the day, helping to raise money towards the Barchester Charitable Foundation. The bike was donated for the day by Stacey John-Davies at Forge Health and Fitness gym, Carmarthen. The Deputy Manager, Kelly-Ann Holmes, got the home off to a good start by completing 25 miles on the exercise bike in 1hr and 50 minutes! To donate, please visit: Tour de Barchester is fundraising for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation (justgiving.com)

Sharon Herbert, Senior General Manager at Plas y Dderwen, said: “It was a wonderful sight to see the cyclists arriving at our home, they are absolutely amazing – what a fantastic effort. It was lovely to be able to give them some refreshments and a bit of a pit stop before they carried on their way. Our staff and residents loved helping them fundraise for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation which does such brilliant work helping to connect vulnerable people with their local communities.”