Adam, six, inspires care home residents to support children’s charity

Kindhearted residents at a Dorset care home have helped one of their carers to raise hundreds of pounds for a charity that supported her critically ill son.

Paulina Trzcinska, a Companionship Team member at Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, wanted to give something back to Amelia’s Rainbow, which provided comfort to her son Adam when he was diagnosed with cancer as a toddler.

When residents heard about Adam, who is now six and in remission, they chose the charity as their main cause to support this year.

In their most recent initiative, they sponsored Paulina, Adam, his big sister Alicja and Elise Woolnough, Companionship Team Leader, to complete two charity runs in Bournemouth on the same day.

The upshot of their support, and that of families and other contacts, is more than £850 in funds raised for Amelia’s Rainbow.

Paulina said: “When our residents heard about Adam, they said they wanted to do what they could to support the charity.

“They and their families have been so generous, enabling us to give something back for the help Adam received so that other children can be supported too.

“The amount raised is amazing, especially at this time when so many people are struggling with the cost of living.”

Using a pushchair for part of the route, Adam completed a junior one-kilometre run in the afternoon, taking second place in his category.

Then, in the evening, Paulina, Elise and Alicja ran a five-kilometre circuit taking in the piers at Boscombe and Bournemouth and finishing up in the famous Lower Gardens.

Paulina said: “None of us are experienced runners but we did it in a little over half an hour. We wore rainbow face paint and felt like the best team ever. Elise is such a great colleague and it was fantastic that she lent her support.”

Avon Cliff resident Judy Price said: “We were all very happy to support them in their running and the charity is such a great cause.”

Amelia’s Rainbow is a Dorset-based charity that supports local children who have serious and complex chronic conditions.

A key aim is to help them and their families to have fun through the tough times, so funding can go towards trips, days out, leisure activities or items that enhance learning and enjoyment.

In Adam’s case, he received a video game console to play on and enjoy in the period after chemotherapy.

For more information about Amelia’s Rainbow, visit www.ameliasrainbow.com.