Sponsored walkers took a stroll on Central Promenade in Douglas to raise funds for the Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes charity which helps around 700 older people on the Island to live independently.
 
Around 50 people took part in the event on May 12th starting by the War Memorial and finishing on the promenade opposite the bottom of Summerhill Road, a distance of almost a mile. Onchan Live At Home Scheme Manager Anni Pearsall thanked everyone who took part, and those who sponsored them. She also thanked organisations which had supported the event, including Douglas Borough Council and St John Ambulance, MannVend for providing refreshments on the day, and MM&C for providing publicity. Anni added: “The funds raised will go to support schemes across the Island, but the walk was also about raising awareness of Live At Home Schemes, and to highlight what older people can do. It shows that mobility isn't a barrier to getting involved – we had people taking part in wheelchairs, with walking frames and sticks, and our oldest walker was aged 95.”
 
All of the walkers received a certificate. There was no fee to take part, but all participants were asked to raise funds from sponsorship. Funds were still coming in at the time of writing, but Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes expect the event to raise around ?1,000. All money raised will go to help the charity run the five schemes it has on the Island (Western, Northern, Onchan, Douglas, Laxey and Lonan) – and the Northern Men in Sheds group.
 
The Isle of Man Live at Home schemes are run by a team of 12 staff and around 500 volunteers, and offer a range of services, including regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, shopping clubs, men’s groups all with transport provided. They also offer guidance on how older people can access other support services, and run befriending initiatives in which volunteers make regular visits to an older person to have a chat and a cup of tea, providing friendship and company.
 
For more information about Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes email onchan.liveathome@mha.org.uk or find the charity on Facebook. 

Photo - A scene from the Isle of Man Live At Home Schemes charity walk on Central Promenade in Douglas on May 12th.