RESIDENTS SHAKE OFF LOCKDOWN SHACKLES AS CLIMBING CHALLENGE GIVES THEM MUIR SPARKLE
MUIR’S Independent Living residents have been flying their flags in the face of lockdown as they head for the Scottish hills.
The residents at Muir’s Fusilier Court scheme in Bury flew flags out of their windows to celebrate VE Day as they prepared for an ascent as part of their ‘Munro Challenge’.
Residents have been taking turns to climb staircases throughout the scheme as they rise to the challenge – while also using a unique brooch-making marathon to make new friends.
“Fusilier Court residents are determined to scale new heights during lockdown,” Sian Kilcoyne, the Muir scheme’s manager said.
“They’ve overcome plenty of challenges by isolating during lockdown so far and it’s been great to see their enthusiasm for all the things we’ve done to help make the best of the situation.
“Many of them have been dancing in their kitchen each day at 6pm and posting their performances on social media to share with each other.
“And they’ve been enjoying some outdoor exercise events in anticipation of their virtual mountain climb – all within social distancing guidelines of course.”
Residents are teaming up to tackle 3,192 stairs to reach the summit of a virtual Munro mountain as they’re dream of getting back into the great outdoors.
A series of hills, Scotland's 282 Munros (named after Sir Hugh Munro, who first documented them all) are over 3,000 feet high and scattered across 12 regions of Scotland.
Their preparations have been helped by a series of gentle outdoor activities which sees them gather for some light exercise to ensure they stay at peak fitness throughout the lockdown period.
And when they’re not dancing to renditions of ‘I Will Survive’, Ain’t no Mountain High Enough’, ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and ‘I’m Gonna’ Be (500 Miles)’ in their kitchens, they’ve even introduced a jewellery-making marathon to get some extra sparkle by meeting new friends.
“The chain mail brooch sees residents post the pieces through the letterbox of someone they don’t know on the Fusilier Court scheme before phoning them and telling them how to make it,” Sian said.
“The idea being they are making a new friend who they can meet once lockdown is over.
“They’ve also been storing special ‘Hug Jars’ too, where residents to put a note a day in for their family to read when lockdown is over.”