Business women put their best foot forward in aid of unpaid carers

A networking group run by and for businesswomen in South Lakeland is fundraising for the area’s unpaid carers by walking, cycling and running around the Lake District.

Every two years members of the Lakeland Businesswomen’s Network (LBN) nominate a charity to support and until 2021 it’s Carer Support South Lakes (CSSL).

The Kendal-based charity provides services and support to 1,350 unpaid carers in South Lakeland.

The LBN chair, Carole Greenland says it’s incredible to think of carers as young as five, and others in their nineties, caring for loved ones 24 hours a day, seven days a week with many giving up income, education, employment prospects or pension rights to do so.

It seemed an important charity for the women to help, explains Carole, and they set about fundraising through a monthly raffle as part of their meeting raising £246.

But with restrictions to control the pandemic taking their meetings online they came up with a new way to fundraise. In October the LBN launched a new challenge, to walk, run and cycle 250 sponsored miles across the Lake District to raise an additional £250 for CSSL.

The group’s vice chair, Anne Clark, logged the first two miles and soon other members were out – from Kendal Castle and Morecambe Bay to Wastwater, Buttermere and Loweswater.

Between them they’ve clocked up 65.48 miles, raising £105 with more challenges planned.

Mike Seaton from CSSL’s says donations, whether large or small, make a huge difference and will ensure unpaid carers get the support they need.

Anyone wanting to support the LBN’s can visit their JustGiving page.

For more information about CSSL visit: https://carersupportsouthlakes.org.uk

For more information about the LBN visit: https://www.lbn.org.uk/