Hartford Care raises more than £30,000 for The Silver Line

The helpline was founded by TV personality Esther Rantzen in 2013 to provide advice, information and friendship to isolated and vulnerable older people across the UK.

The team at the care provider headquartered at Clifton House, in Bunnian Place, in the centre of Basingstoke, recognised that the objectives of the new charity corresponded with their own core values of providing care, comfort and companionship for older people.

Consequently, the company nominated The Silver Line as its charity of the year for 2014.

Sean Gavin, chief executive officer for Hartford Care said the group’s initial target was to raise £10,000 for the charity.

Over the moon with the money raised, he described the amount as an amazing achievement, thanks to efforts of many Hartford Care employees, residents and family carers, who organised and took part in a range of events.

These included a Big Chat Challenge, washing cars, sky diving, cream teas, fetes and fairs around the group’s ten care homes, plus car boot sales and an auction night.

A significant portion of the money raised was due to the Hartford Care Sahara Trek Team, which involved Sean and his wife Jo, who is Hartford Care’s brand director, along with Leah-Marie Mills, group HR manager and Mike Smith operations director.

They braved high temperatures and trekked across the Sahara Desert.

The four day challenge saw them journey through an ever changing landscape and climb to the top of massive Chigaga Dunes.

The team described the experience as “brutal at times, but exhilarating.”

Sean said: “This was a great thing for us to do and, although it was a challenge, it was also hugely enjoyable and rewarding and I feel really privileged to have had the experience.

“I won’t say it was life changing but it may have been – apart from anything else it taught me that no matter how tough something is, you probably can do it. I was particularly touched by the generosity and support of the many, many people both within and outside the group, who supported us either with their time, their creativity or financially.

“For Hartford Care to have raised over £30,000 to, hopefully, make a great difference to many vulnerable and lonely people, was something of which we were all really proud of and I thank everyone who supported us.”

Jo Gavin has written a blog about the Sahara Desert trek which can be found at hartfordcare.co.uk/news/memories-of-the-sahara-trek.

Visit thesilverline.org.uk for information about the charity