RESIDENTS of a North Berwick care home are walking laps of its garden to raise money for charity.

Residents from Fidra House Nursing Home are completing the challenge – led and organised by resident Donald Skinner – to raise money for North Berwick Stroke Club and Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.

Staff at Fidra have also joined in and are racking up many kilometres on foot outwith working hours to boost the total, with residents matching every kilometre the staff complete with a lap of the garden.

Since starting in July, residents have clocked up 2,000 laps so far; Donald has completed 1,000, with fellow resident Jane Rae completing 800.

A chalk tally on the side of the building on Dirleton Avenue keeps track of the number of laps completed.

Donald suffered a stroke in 2017. The 87-year-old struggled with his mobility and speech as a result, leaving his home in North Berwick to become a resident at Fidra that same year.

He has made good recovery and before lockdown loved strolling around North Berwick to keep himself fit. However, due to coronavirus restrictions, he is currently unable to leave the home.

Not one to be held back he started walking around Fidra’s grounds daily.

Donald, who attended the stroke club on a weekly basis, which is affiliated to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland (CHSS), decided he wanted to put these extra steps to good use and raise funds for the group and the charity.

Alongside Fidra House’s activity team, Donald came up with the idea of rallying fellow residents to do laps of the home’s garden.

He said: “Before lockdown, I was attending the North Berwick Stroke Club. It is great to get together with people who understand how you are feeling and have had similar experiences.

“I love walking around the beautiful grounds here at Fidra, it has been particularly important over the last few months during lockdown.

“I had the idea of walking and recording my laps to raise money and thought it was something we could all get involved with.

“We have all been enjoying the challenge, it’s been a great motivator for everyone to get outside and stay active. It’s been a great team effort.”

Staff members Zandra Foster, Clare Overton and Liz Blows are delighted to be involved. Zandra, activities coordinator, said: “It’s been such a wonderful thing to concentrate on during lockdown.”

Shona Langlands, community fundraising and events manager at CHSS, said: “Donald is an inspiration and they are all doing such a fantastic job. Everyone at CHSS is cheering them on!”

Donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/fidrahouse