Two members of staff from a Suffolk care home capped a year of fundraising for the Alzheimer’s Society with a memorable sponsored walk up Mount Kilimanjaro.

Manager of Bucklesham Grange Care Home, Carol Rhind and lifestyle team leader Kirsty Thomas work with people every day who are living with Alzheimer’s, so the cause is very close to their hearts.

The caring duo have held a variety of events in the past year – including the first annual Bucklesham Ball, a Christmas bazaar, an auction with the help of Ipswich Town Football Club, and sold various handmade items – raising, with the mountain walk, a total of £8,800 with money still coming in.

Speaking about Kilimanjaro, Kirsty said: “I really enjoyed meeting new people and hearing about why they were embarking on this challenge. Many had loved ones living with dementia, and several were living within a care home or care community.

“Each person told me about their positive stories about the care homes in which their loved ones live.

“With so much negative press and stigma around the care industry it made me feel like what we do really does make a difference and we are not fighting a losing battle.”

The mountain trek was a big challenge for the pair.

She added: “The hardest part for me was the long walk to lava rock. It rained and there was limited scenery so morale was down and no one was really speaking. It made a long slow walk feel longer and slower.”

They were joined by two colleagues from other Hallmark care homes, with the foursome raising a total of £19,000.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/C-Rhind or www.justgiving.com/Kirsty-Tina-Thomas