ABOUT 20 staff from Peldon Ward at Colchester General Hospital will next week take part in a 10-mile fundraising walk to The Peldon Rose pub.

The money raised on Saturday September 10 will be used to improve facilities on the ward, which is a care of the elderly ward in Gainsborough Wing.

Among those taking part will be Sister Jenny Lockerbie, two deputy sisters, staff nurses, healthcare assistants, therapy staff, a security guard and ward clerk Richard Welling.

They will set out from the ward at 9.30am and take in a route that will include High Woods Country Park, Castle Park, the Hythe, Rowhedge and Fringringhoe.

The fundraising walk, which is expected to take four hours to complete, is the initiative of Mr Welling and healthcare assistant Debi Fearn.

He said: “The ward is currently undergoing a six-week refurbishment programme which is why we thought it would be a good idea to raise money for further improvements.

“The staff were very keen to do something for the patients which is how we came up with the Peldon Ward to Peldon Rose walk.

“The money we raise will be used in many ways, such as to buy footstools, special sit-in scales and to make the ward dayroom dementia-friendly, such as by decorating it in bright colours and buying 1960s and 1970s-style furniture.”

Mr Welling, who will be 57 tomorrow [Thurs 1] will be the oldest walker, and Lauren Vincent, 22, a nurse, the youngest.

The money raised will be donated to the Peldon Ward fund of Colchester Hospitals Charity (CoHoC).

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so here.