Barchester Healthcare staff take on gruelling challenge

Paul Patchett, Head of Maintenance from Barchester’s Elgar Court Care Home, was one of the team taking on the gruelling Tour de Barchester cycling challenge, from Carmarthen to Wallingford in Oxfordshire.  

This was the third successive year staff from Barchester Healthcare’s care homes and hospitals took on the challenge. 

So far, they have raised almost £2,000 for Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

The foundation 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.

On Thursday, June 20, the cycling team arrived at Malvern's Elgar Court Care Home where they were welcomed by the residents, community police and Malvern College Military Cadets. 

After everyone enjoyed refreshments and live entertainment at Elgar Court, the cyclists set off on the next leg of their journey to Tewkesbury.  

Malvern College Cadets lined the route out of the home and PC Dave Olczak joined the cyclists to ride to Tewkesbury while police cars led the 
cavalcade safely along the route.

Elgar Court was one of 14 care homes Mr Patchett and the rest of the cycling team stopped at during the tour.

Sarah Cadwallader General Manager at Elgar Court Care Home, 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.  

"We would like also say a big thank you to our residents, staff, Malvern Police and Malvern College Cadets for making the event so special for our cyclists and residents”.

Visit www.justgiving.com/page/tourdebarchester24 to donate.