Strides for Smiles - Bonnechere Manor to Start May 4th

RENFREW: As part of the ‘Strides for Smiles’ fund raiser, starting on May 4th, 2020, Bonnechere Manor’s own 99-year-old Harold Irving will be walking each week with the help of his Physiotherapist Assistant. Mr. Irving will be walking on the property of Bonnechere Manor to ensure his safety. He will be walking 2-3 times per week and community members are invited to virtually follow his ‘Strides for Smiles’ journey on the COR Long-Term Care Homes social media accounts.

Kind words of encouragement are highly appreciated and will be passed along to Mr. Irving. He was inspired by the many seniors around the world that are inspiring others during the COVID-19 pandemic, like 100-year-old Colonel Tom Moore, who walked 100 lengths of his garden to raise funds for the National Health System in the United Kingdom.

‘Strides for Smiles’ at Bonnechere Manor is accepting donations to support the Bonnechere Manor Foundation. The Manor began their journey of implementing the Butterfly Approach back in January but has been on pause since the coronavirus pandemic situation has escalated. Once the world becomes a safer place again, Bonnechere Manor will resume its plans of transforming the Manor into a Butterfly Home for its residents. Anyone who is interested in donating to the Bonnechere Manor Foundation can do so through Eventbrite.com or mail a cheque made out to the Foundation anytime throughout the month of May. Follow along and join the journey on the Facebook event page: “Strides for Smiles – Bonnechere Manor”.

Community members are invited to share online photos of themselves walking in honour of Strides for Smiles at Bonnechere Manor, a colourful sign that they have made for the occasion, or chalk art outside of their homes with #StridesForSmilesBM. For updates, photos and videos of Harold Irving’s efforts to walk and spread positivity in the community and show support for the Bonnechere Manor, the community is encouraged to check out he Strides for Smiles – Bonnechere Manor event page.

For questions, please feel free to contact:

Lainy Boldt-Johnson, Fundraising Coordinator at 613-432-4873 ext. 1252 or email Lainy Boldt-Johnson

To donate online please click the “tickets” button and input your desired donation at: Eventbrite.com

Bonnechere Manor, highly regarded long-term care home in Renfrew, Ontario, is a municipally (not-for-profit) owned and operated by the County of Renfrew and City of Pembroke. A wide-range of quality long-term programs and services including 24-hour nursing care, accommodation, meals, as well as physiotherapy programs and a variety of social and recreational activities are provided to the residents who call the Manor “home.” The Manor has been awarded a Four-Year Accreditation with Exemplary Standing Award – the highest award granted by Accreditation Canada and provides the Homes with the opportunity to benchmark their programs and services to national standards and assists in continuous quality improvements.