'Granny Alness' (90) steps up to coronavirus challenge with laps of Easter Ross care home; Age Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland to benefit from care home walk
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A 90-YEAR-OLD activist who has given decades of service to her Easter Ross community is stepping up to the coronavirus challenge by completing laps of her residential care home.
In her productive life, Patti Davis brought up seven children, foster cared for 19 more and served as a district councillor.
Despite a diagnosis of vascular dementia, the woman dubbed Granny Alness is well on her way to meeting the £3000 target set to help others during lockdown.
Mrs Davis moved into Mull Hall Residential Care Home near Invergordon just as the lockdown started.
As a sociable person who struggled with isolation, she embarked on a fundraising circuit of the building each day to pass the time and help others.
Proud daughter Ann Laing said her mother had never been one to shirk away from helping others and recalled how the country pulled together during the war.
"Mull Hall obviously has to practice social distancing which, for an elderly group, is not easy and extremely challenging for the staff to come up with ideas to keep the residents active and stimulated," said Mrs Laing, who lives near Kirkhill.
True to spirit, Mrs Davis looked at a way to help in the Covid-19 pandemic.
In so doing, she's joining fundraising heroes Captain Tom Moore (100) and Highland great-granny Margaret Payne (90) in spotlighting a hardy generation made of sterner stuff. Captain Tom completed laps of his garden to raise almost £30m for NHS charities while Mrs Payne has hauled in more than £380,000 climbing the equivalent of Suilven on her stairs.
Ms Laing said: "She is still working for the community now and that is helping her because she feels she is doing her bit and supporting others."
The money raised will be allocated in the Highlands with the help of Age Scotland and Alzheimer Scotland.
Lorna McDonald, manager at the 40-resident home, described Mrs Davis as "a ray of sunshine".
"She is an absolute pleasure to have here," she said. "It is great what she is doing. She is a very kind and caring person and it is evident to us she thinks of others and is very appreciative of the staff."
She said it takes Mrs Davis about15 minutes to do a lap of the building and she is always accompanied by a member of staff."
She's almost three-quarters of the way to her target and is inspiring well-wishers. One wrote: "God bless you, Granny Alness."
Support Mrs Davis here.
