Ringwood care home residents enjoyed an action-packed day cheering on four-legged friends at a charity obstacle course.
Residents from St Ives House, on Horton Road, attended Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s Muddy Dog Dash, a dog-themed charity run held at Avon Heath Country Park. This was the second Muddy Dog Dash organised by Lewis-Manning Hospice Care this year, with the first having taken place at Upton Country Park in March.
Participants tackled a novelty obstacle course with their four-legged friends featuring muddy ditches, tunnels, and ball pits. Residents from St Ives House, which is run by not-for-profit charity Care South, enjoyed applauding and chatting to the finalists, as well as watching pooches take part in the event’s ‘Dazzling Dog Show’. Care South is proud to support Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, which provides support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across East Dorset.
Ken, a resident at St Ives House, said: “I’ve had six dogs over the years, and I used to bring them to Avon Heath Country Park, so it was nice to come back and to see lots of labradors, springer spaniels and retrievers there. Dogs give a lot of love to you.”
Liz, another resident at the home, added: “Anything that involves dogs is great. I’ve had dogs before, and so it was fantastic to meet so many at the event. It was also lovely to feel like part of the community, which is something that I want to stay part of.”
Two members of the team, Dan Banks, Care Team Leader at St Ives House, and Angie l’Anson, Group Practice Development Lead at Care South, completed the 5 km route, with a shorter 3km also available.
Emma Cotton, Home Manager at St Ives House, said: “It was wonderful for our residents to be part of such a fantastic, fun event in their local community. Their faces lit up as they got to meet so many different dogs. It was a joy to enable them to play their own part in all the excitement and action on the day.”
Anna DuRose, Events Fundraiser for Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, said: “We were pleased to welcome the St Ives House residents to our first Ringwood-based Muddy Dog Dash. They brought so much enthusiasm and positive spirit to the event, and it was lovely to see them having fun in the sunshine while cheering on all the dogs and participants. We are so grateful to Care South for their generous support, which enables us to reach people living with life-limiting conditions.”
St Ives House provides residential, respite, and dementia care, with residents enjoying a daily programme of events led by an in-house activities team to bring them together to socialise and build friendships.
Care South is a leading provider of high-quality residential and home care services across the south of England, with care homes in Dorset, north Devon, and Somerset, and care at home offices covering Dorset and Somerset.
For more information about the care services available at St Ives House, visit care-south.co.uk or call the home on 01425 209464.
