Abbeyfield Belfast residents put their best foot forward to put a roof over the heads of older people in an impoverished South African township recently, joining staff, volunteers and supporters who walked the 6.6 mile route between Abbeyfield Belfast’s eight houses. In total, Abbeyfield Belfast residents and supporters have now raised well over £1,500 this summer from the walk and garden parties, in aid of Abbeyfield’s Pelican Park development in Cape Town.

Some residents in their 90s walked legs of the route that started at Bell Rotary in the King’s Road, Ballyhackamore, crossed the road to Hamilton House, then to Jean Armour in Belmont Church Rd, St Finnian’s on the Cregagh Rd, Voysey on Cadogan Park and along the Lisburn Rd via Helene Andrews and Maryville Houses, and ended with a barbecue at Ellen Simonton House in Malone Park. At St Finnian’s the walkers were served refreshments by 106 year old Ellie Lawther, Abbeyfield Belfast’s oldest resident, and her four year old friend Jack, with other residents coming out to cheer walkers on at each house.

Abbeyfield in South Africa is partnering with Habitat for Humanity, the City of Cape Town and Power Construction to build a home for older people in the Pelican Park Township, one of the most impoverished areas of Cape Town. The home will accommodate poor senior citizens that have been previously disadvantaged by the Apartheid system, and will include a soup kitchen to help feed people in the community and an after-school centre for local children. Whilst funds for construction have been secured, money is needed for everything from cooking and laundry facilities, to beds, tables and chairs, bed linen, curtains and cutlery, as well as books, toys and computers for the child-care centre.

For more information, please call Liz Morrison on 07808 328 159 or email liz@abbeyfieldbelfast.org.uk Photos can be downloaded at https://goo.gl/photos/Y8Zhikg2zBMBTYSy6

Walkers at St Finnian's House beginning the South Belfast leg; Lottie Vicente (6) and Jack Vicente (4) with their dog Tibbs leading walkers out from St Finnian's to start the South Belfast leg; and walkers with our oldest resident, Ellie Lawther, who at 106 wasn't quite up to the walk but did serve refreshments at St Finnian's, helped by 4 year old Jack Vicente.