Ex-Olympian, David Moorcroft helps Coventry Chief Executive to run London marathon for older people

Local ex-Olympian, David Moorcroft is supporting Coventry Chief Executive to run the London marathon and raise £40k to enable better lives for older people.

Mick Laverty, 54, takes on the challenge on April 28th in aid of The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, a Coventry-based charity that supports a wide range of older people, including those with dementia. All funds raised will go towards the charity’s well-being services available to all residents in its 14 retirement villages and five housing schemes.

While Mick has some running experience he has never before completed a marathon. He has reached out to local, ex Olympian middle and long-distance runner and former 5,000 metres world record holder. David Moorcroft OBE. David, a supporter of the charity, recently joined Mick on a city training run from ExtraCare’s Earlsdon Park Village in Coventry and has been offering Mick his expert running tips.

Mick’s fundraising efforts are also well underway having hit £26k of his £40k total thanks to generous donations from the charity’s construction partners, Galliford Try Partnerships and Nicol Thomas but there’s still a way to go to reach the target amount.

Mick Laverty, Chief Executive of The ExtraCare Charitable Trust comments: “At ExtraCare our well-being services rely on funds to ensure they remain accessible to all our residents regardless of their health or wealth. Public funding cuts mean public funding alone no longer covers the cost of providing these services which include dementia support, preventative health support, end of life support and general well-being advice.

James Warrington, Regional Managing Director, Galliford Try Partnerships comments: “It was great pleasure to be able to present Mick this cheque for such a worthy cause. We would like to wish Mick all the best for his upcoming Marathon and would encourage anybody to sponsor him in any way they can.”

Wendy Griffin, Director, Nicol Thomas said: “Having seen ExtraCare’s well-being services first hand we had no hesitation in supporting Mick’s efforts in raising funds to maintain this form of support for their residents. We wish Mick all the very best for the marathon.”

ExtraCare operates 19 retirement villages and schemes within the Midlands and further south, creating sustainable communities that provide homes older people want and lifestyles they can enjoy. As a charitable trust not driven by profit it is committed to ensuring better lives for older people.

The marathon bid comes as the charity releases the findings of its research with Aston University to evaluate ExtraCare’s unique approach to retirement living. The research has shown that ExtraCare residents exercise more (75%); are never or hardly ever lonely (86.5%); benefit from a reduction in anxiety symptoms (up to 23%); have improved memory (24%) and reduce NHS costs (by 38%).

Donations can made direct via https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/mick-laverty or by contacting ExtraCare’s fundraising team at fundraising@extracare.org.uk

ENDS

For more information please contact: Cheryl Flounders on 02476 507 917 or at cheryl.flounders@extracare.org.uk

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust

ExtraCare is a registered charity established in 1988 and based in Coventry. Our vision is better lives for older people and our mission is creating sustainable communities that provide homes older people want, lifestyles they can enjoy and care if it’s needed. To deliver our vision and mission we essentially do three things:

• We develop new villages
• We operate villages and schemes
• We support our villages, schemes and our ‘extra-care’ model through fundraising, advocacy and research

Each village or scheme has 5 to 18 social, health and leisure facilities that are accessible to our residents, volunteers and local people representing all age groups living in surrounding communities. Our Charity Shops help fund care and well-being services for older people living at our each of our locations.