Keeping Active Together in Stoke-on-Trent

22nd February, 2012

Retired residents in all three of ExtraCare's Stoke-on-Trent properties joined together this week to celebrate The ExtraCare Challenge

St Dominic's Court residents Agnes Taylor (94) and Nancy Cartwright (97), Errol Waldron from Camoys Court, Daisy Moore from St Dominic's Court and Molly Foster from Berryhill Village, who all won prizes at the ExtraCare Challenge day at Berryhill Village in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staff from Camoys Court and St Dominic's Court retirement schemes came along with their residents to the event at Berryhill retirement village, organised by Village Activity Facilitator Ben Warrender and others at the Village.

Residents took part in aerobics, skittles, darts and beanbag throws. They also had the chance to get involved in less active events including a quiz and some craft sessions.

Two residents from St Dominic's Court were praised for their efforts during the aerobics: 94-year-old Agnes Taylor and 97-year-old Nancy Cartwright. They were each awarded badges for their hard work.

Nancy said that she had had a good time during the day. "I'm not bad for 97. I don't think anyone who saw me today would guess I was that old!" she said.

Eileen Hargreaves, Activity Co-ordinator at St Dominic's Court, said that nine residents from her scheme had joined in with the day. "We had four others who wanted to come but couldn't for one reason or another," she added. "It's really nice that they're all mixing together. We did aerobics as one big group which was lovely."

12 of Camoys Court's 32 residents travelled from Cobridge to the Stoke-on-Trent retirement village, including Errol Waldron, who won a Rufus badge for his excellent performance in the skittles game.

April Harper, who is the EOP Locksmith® for Camoys Court and St Dominic's Court, said that it was lovely to see all of her group together. "It's nice for them to get out and about, because it is hard for some of them. And it's so nice to come to Berryhill where they've got more facilities, because our schemes are quite small.

"We do things together quite often so our residents are growing friendships with people from other schemes and villages. It's great to see."

As it was Pancake Day, residents and staff also took part in a pancake race - the team from Camoys Court won the residents' race, and Locksmith® Amanda Gallacher won the staff race.

The ExtraCare Challenge, inspired by the London 2012 Games, is part of ExtraCare's Activities Programme and is encouraging residents to get active and get involved in the run-up to the 2012 Games.

It has been granted the Inspire mark by the London 2012 Inspire programme, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Picture: St Dominic's Court residents Agnes Taylor (94) and Nancy Cartwright (97), Errol Waldron from Camoys Court, Daisy Moore from St Dominic's Court and Molly Foster from Berryhill Village, who all won prizes at the ExtraCare Challenge day at Berryhill Village in Stoke-on-Trent.

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For further information, please contact:

Lucy Henson, PR officer
0789 105 3062
lucy.henson@extracare.org.uk