Staff commit to sponsored cycle

STAFF at Butterfly Lodge, a specialist care home in St Budeaux, Plymouth, are organising a sponsored 24-hour bike ride and hoping to raise the final £800 needed for specialist new entertainment equipment for their residents living with dementia.

The team has been actively engaged for nearly a year in fundraising to buy a new interactive mobile unit for use by residents, with activities including a recent spring fair which raised £300, and a sponsored bike ride along the Camel Trail last summer which raised £500.

Participants in the sponsored cycle will use two static bikes installed in the reception area of Butterfly Lodge, to be ridden in turn by various staff members and relatives.

A dedicated team of 20 colleagues and friends of the home have committed to taking part and the riders will achieve their 24-hour target by doing two 12-hour stints over two days.

Deputy manager Sarah McCaffrey said: “We are so close to having the full amount of money we need for the Jolly Trolley that we are hoping this will be the final push to bring in the remainder.

“It really is an amazing piece of kit which will enable everyone at Butterfly Lodge to benefit equally from music, singing, reminiscence and other fun activities via livestreaming.

“We’ll also be able to support people to more easily access live-screening from outside the home, as well as using it for playing video messages from families and friends and for