Residents and staff at a Falkirk care home are riding high after generous local donations enabled them to purchase a much-anticipated cycle trishaw from Cycling Without Age Scotland SCIO.

A donation from the Asda Foundation Fund allowed local community group ‘Communities Along the Carron Association’ (CATCA) to develop its bike rides for the elderly and those with limited mobility. Following its success, the Scottish Government provided funding for them to set up Cycling Without Age Scotland SCIO.

This initiative recruits and trains volunteer ‘pilots’ to ride specially designed trishaw bikes which carry two elderly passengers.

Now, thanks to this established fundraising relationship, Asda has kindly awarded the remaining funds needed for Meallmore’s Airthrey care home to secure a trishaw of its own.

Rebecca McLaughlin, Manager at Airthrey, said: “The contribution from CATCA’s funding via the ASDA Foundation Fund was such a wonderful surprise – we are completely overwhelmed but really excited to have finally been able to purchase our trishaw.

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Communities Along the Carron Association, Asda, Cycling Without Age Scotland SCIO and everyone who has donated to the cause. All our staff and residents’ friends and families have worked so hard with fundraising and we really do appreciate it.

“Being able to get out and about in the fresh air and socialise with the local community is so important for our residents and the trishaw allows us to do just that. Look out for us wheeling around Falkirk soon!”

Christine Bell, Executive Officer from Cycling Without Age Scotland, said: “From the moment we visited Airthrey Care Home, it was clear they were totally dedicated to making this fantastic initiative happen for their residents.

“We have already recruited pilots from the area, including some of the care home staff members, and are now ready to get the wheels rolling along some of the beautiful routes around this part of Falkirk.

“The remaining contribution from the Asda Foundation will be donated by CATCA to other settings in the local area, making Falkirk, which has over 600Km of suitable path networks, the most established Cycling Without Age location in the whole of Scotland.”

www.meallmorelodge.co.uk