RAF veteran, Doug Waghorn, with Stewart Gillespie, Christine Gillott and Elizabeth Baxter from Care for Veterans
Former RAF Flight Engineer and Air Gunner, Doug Waghorn, will be taking part in the upcoming Worthing 10k road race, as part of local charity, Care for Veterans’ Fantastic Fifty running team.
The charity has recruited more than 50 runners to join its team for the 10km route along Worthing seafront on Sunday 3 June, to help raise vital funds.
Care for Veterans, based at Boundary Road, Worthing, provides residential nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and end of life care to physically disabled ex-Service personnel and their family members. The charity, which was first set up to care for those returning from World War I with life-changing injuries, celebrates its centenary next year.
Doug is a permanent resident at Care for Veterans. He came to live at the charity in 2017 following a stroke. He explains: “I went first to a home in Lancing, which was very nice, but they didn’t have any on-site facilities. My daughter started looking around and found this place, which has the physiotherapy department. It’s much better to have it in-house as it gives you a better chance of making some progress, and I like to have a challenge. All of the facilities here are great; it has everything, so my family don’t need to worry about me.”
Doug is going to be pushed around the 10km route in his wheelchair by three staff members from Care for Veterans: Head of Fundraising and Marketing, Elizabeth Baxter, Fundraising Officer, Christine Gillott, and Marketing and PR Officer, Stewart Gillespie.
They hope to get as much sponsorship as possible for the charity, which must raise £1.9 million this year.
To show your support to Doug and the rest of Care for Veterans’ Fantastic Fifty team, go to www.justgiving.com/careforveterans to donate, or come and cheer for them on the day!
ENDS
Care for Veterans (formerly The Queen Alexandra Hospital Home) was established in 1919 – the charity celebrates its 99th anniversary this year (2018).
Care for Veterans is a registered charity, providing care and rehabilitation for physically disabled ex-Service personnel and their families. Our residents’ needs are complex and many have multiple disabilities. Many have an Acquired Brain Injury and some have neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s or Multiple Sclerosis. Others are paralysed or do not have use of their limbs and some are terminally ill. We support on average 140 residents a year.
We care for up to 60 residents at any one time.
Our residents are aged between 32 and 99.
Our residents represent the tri-services: Royal Navy, Army and RAF.
Services at Care for Veterans include nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, an active social and recreation department, rehabilitation kitchen, a chaplaincy service, counselling, IT facilities, a rehabilitation garden, sensory room, coffee shop and function room and regular outings on our specially adapted coach.
With no regular government funding, Care for Veterans must raise over £1.9 million each year to maintain its nursing and rehabilitation services for ex-Servicemen and women.
Care for Veterans
Gifford House, Boundary Road, Worthing, West Sussex, BN11 4LJ
Telephone 01903 218444
www.careforveterans.org.uk
fundraising@careforveterans.org.uk
Registered Charity No: 1072334
