Nursing home proves sports day is for all ages with fundraising event

Derby’s oldest nursing home proved sports day is not just for the school playing field when they hosted a multi-generational summer event.

Award-winning Brookfields Private Nursing Home on Burton Road, which has been providing residential care since the 1960s, organised the sports day for residents, families and staff in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

People from five to 95 took part in races including the egg and spoon, sack and ‘big pants’, along with tin can alley, tug of war and taking aim at staff with wet sponges.

Rosie, who was at the sports day with her mum Joyce – a resident at Brookfields – and four generations of her family, said: “What I like about it is it’s very welcoming to all the children of any age and the relatives are encouraged to join in.”

Brookfields staff organised the annual sports day as part of their busy programme of events to bring joy to residents as well as raise hundreds of pounds for the British Heart Foundation.

Proceedings began with an ice cream van which paid a visit to Brookfields, before staff, residents and their families got stuck into the sports day on the front lawn.

Brookfields owner Celeste Turner said: “Each year we organise a summer sports day to show that you can have fun playing games at any age! It’s really important to us to welcome families of residents who live with us to enjoy activities here with their loved ones. Creating an inclusive day like this is just part of all the things we do at Brookfields to ensure that residents have a full, rich life here.

“We chose the British Heart Foundation as our charity because of a young member of the Brookfields staff family who is living with a heart condition. Many residents experience problems with their heart and we know this is a great charity doing good work to support many people in this country.

“The sports day was brilliant fun – we hope everyone enjoyed it!”