Fashionistas at care homes across the south donned their most colourful and extravagant hats to flag the importance of research into the causes and potential cures of brain tumours.
Colten Care homes in Dorset and Hampshire marked #WearAHatDay with fun activities and community engagement in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research.
The annual fundraiser saw residents and staff put on hats of all shapes and sizes, take part in hat-making workshops and outdo each other with ‘Royal Ascot’-type creations.
At Abbey View in Sherborne, members of the home’s art club decorated hats for an Ascot-themed tea and race afternoon.
Held on a specially marked out track in the lounge, the racing involved residents posing as jockeys and giving instructions and tips to staff members pretending to be horses.
Ordering proceedings as race caller, in army hat, was David Froud.
Fellow resident Pippa Noyes, a keen horsewoman until her late 70s, spoke of her memories of attending Ascot in years gone by after she won her race.
Pippa, whose ‘horse’ was Housekeeping Supervisor Tracey Stratton, said: “It was mayhem but a lot of fun and everyone looked oh so elegant in their head attire.”
Elsewhere, more than £120 was raised at New Forest home Woodpeckers. Residents there held a six-hour hat swap relay challenge and went on a minibus trip to the coastal village of Calshot wearing fancy head gear.
Woodpeckers Companionship Team Leader Jane Bunker said: “Wearing a hat reminds us of those who have been personally affected by cancer. Wear a Hat Day is a great way to raise awareness and precious funds for research.”
At Avon Cliff in Bournemouth, residents and staff came together for a hat-making workshop using recycled materials ahead of a parade of the best creations judged by Home Manager Theresa Sales.
As well as brain tumour awareness, the activity supported Avon Cliff’s nominated charity of the year, Wessex Cancer Support.
At Fernhill in Longham, residents worked with children at Hampreston First School in nearby Wimborne to make and display Easter bonnets.
Canford Chase in Poole combined Wear a Hat Day with a community ‘Tea & Togetherness’ afternoon and a horse racing grid game with players invited to don a fancy hat to take part.
Other Colten Care homes hosting community events for Wear a Hat Day included Newstone House in Sturminster Newton and the Winchester homes Abbott Barton and St Catherines View.
According to Brain Tumour Research, brain cancer kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.
