Halloween Themed Event At Parris Lawn Raises Funds On World Stroke Day
The team at Parris Lawn organised an action-packed event to mark World Stroke Day and raise funds for the Stroke Association – and with Halloween just around the corner, the chance to dress up and have some spooky fun was an opportunity too good to miss.
Pumpkin Carving and Witches Hats Galore
The morning kicked off with a pumpkin carving session, where residents wearing witches hats and devils horns were joined by family and Parris Lawn team members. The Wellbeing team were fully committed to Halloween-inspired costumes: Nathan, ‘dressed to kill’ as James Bond, Viv stalked around looking like Bride of Dracula and Head Housekeeper, Sharon came as a sinister witch complete with a wrist-clutching spider and a grizzly leg prop!
Everyone had great fun with the pumpkins and the ‘Best Pumpkin Design’ prize was awarded to young Amelie who was visiting her great grandmother, resident Pat Pound, with her family. The residents were really chuffed that she won, and resident Joan remarked how lovely it was to see the smile on Amelie’s face, which absolutely lit up the room.
Grand Auction Brings Laughter and Donations
After lunch, the excitement began to build as the dining room was set up for the day’s main event – the Grand Auction. Residents, relatives - many in fancy dress - and guests, including Lynn Vincent from the Stroke Association, took their seats and were handed specially made bidding paddles, before Parris Lawn’s Customer Relations Manager, Jesse, took to the floor as auctioneer.
The ‘lots’ were assembled to appeal to everyone in the audience and the auction got underway, with participants raising their paddles to bid for jigsaws, novels, home-made sweets, needlework, cuddly toys – and a pieces of artwork created by Parris Lawn residents and Wellbeing team members. Resident Pam told Jesse she was happy that the residents’ creations had sold for so much money which would help to make a positive impact for the Stroke Association. Meanwhile, Head of Wellbeing, Viv, was touched by the response from the audience, adding, “I never thought people would be so interested in the items I created at home!”
The most emphatic bid of the day came from Resident Ambassador, Albert Knight, who had his sights firmly set on the wine and swept the board with a savvy bid for all three bottles! Auctioneer Jesse kept the proceedings smartly paced with his gavel, injecting plenty of humour into the afternoon which was a resounding success. “Raising over £200 for such an important cause made me feel good too”, said Jesse. “It’s such a strong bond we have with the Stroke Association”.
Fabulous Day Ends with a Magical Flourish
After the excitement of the auction, the weekly High Tea service was perfectly timed to give everyone a pick-me-up. In keeping with the Halloween theme, trays of ‘eyeball’ cupcakes and a ‘spider’s web’ layer cake featured on the tea trolley - visually striking and delicious with a cuppa!
The magic continued - literally - as residents’ favourite, Marco the Magician, entertained the room, and concluded the day with a flourish. It was a wonderful way to mark World Stroke Day where fun, creativity and a spirit of camaraderie (not the ghostly kind!), resulted in both awareness and funds being raised for the Stroke Association.
A Warm Welcome to Parris Lawn
Tucked away in the peaceful village of Ringmer near Lewes, Parris Lawn Care Home offers a calm and comforting environment with beautiful views over the South Downs. With individually styled rooms, each with an en-suite wet room, residents enjoy privacy and comfort tailored to their needs. Whether your loved one requires residential, nursing, dementia, or respite care, our compassionate team is here to provide personalised support every step of the way.
Life at Parris Lawn is about more than just care, it’s about creating meaningful moments. Residents can relax in our cosy cinema, socialise in the bistro café, or treat themselves to a fresh new look in the hair salon.
