CARE home workers are stepping up their efforts to raise money people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease after pushing residents 8km in a Memory Walk.

The Chanters Care Home activities co-ordinator Lauren Oliver, care worker Dawn Hawyes and chef Chrissie Morris raised more than £200 for the Alzheimer’s Society’s via the annual sponsored walk at Heaton Park in Manchester last Saturday.

They pushed Arthur Swinton and Joan Redshaw, residents at the home on Tyldesley Old Road in Atherton, around the course in their wheelchairs and Lauren and Dawn have now pledged to run next year's London Marathon to raise more money for the society.

Lauren, 28, of Lancaster Avenue, Atherton, said: “I cannot believe we have signed ourselves up to do the marathon – it stemmed from the excitement of doing the walk on Saturday.

“There was a really good atmosphere with everybody enjoying themselves and there must have been around 4,000 people there.

“We care for residents with dementia at the home and knowing we are helping a charity that helps people like them is rewarding.

“It was nice chatting to other people as we were walking round the park too.

“With the marathon being a much longer distance, we are hoping to raise more money for the charity and want to get more people involved in the race too.”