Care UK colleague reaches new heights for charity

A Care UK colleague took to the skies to raise money for Parkinson’s UK after being inspired by a resident’s determination to make a difference.

Shahvez Tauqir, Customer Relations Manager at Care UK’s Halecroft Grange care home in Greater Manchester, recently completed a charity skydive in aid of Parkinson’s UK.

He took on the challenge after resident Philomena was told she was medically unable to complete the skydive herself due to her Parkinson’s diagnosis. Philomena, who is passionate about raising awareness of Parkinson’s, had hoped to complete a skydive in support of the charity. 

When Shahvez heard the news, he stepped in and volunteered to complete the challenge on her behalf.

Having joined Care UK two years ago, Shahvez said helping residents fulfil their goals is one of the most rewarding parts of his role.

Speaking about Philomena, he said: “The one thing I learned about her in our very first meeting was her determination. She always says, ‘I am not Parkinson’s and Parkinson’s is not me. I am so much more than that.’”

He added: “When she told me she couldn’t do the skydive, I could see how disappointed she was. I just said, ‘I’ll do it for you.’ Seeing the light come back into her eyes made me realise I had to go through with it.”

Shahvez completed the jump at Black Knights Skydiving Centre in Lancaster and has raised more than £2,385 for Parkinson’s UK. 

Shahvez's fundraising was then also supported through Care UK’s Matched Funding scheme. The Matched Funding scheme helps colleagues maximise the impact of their charitable activities by matching up to £1,000 raised for UK-registered charities. The £1,000 donation from Care UK means Shahvez’s total is now £3,385.

After the skydive, Shahvez arranged a private screening of the footage for Philomena, who was delighted to see the challenge completed in support of a cause close to her heart.

Reflecting on the fundraising success, Shahvez said: “Whether it was £1 or £100, every donation was made with kindness and generosity. I hope the money raised helps make a difference to people living with Parkinson’s and their families.”

He added: “I’d encourage other colleagues to get involved with fundraising and Matched Funding. What might seem like a small gesture can mean something huge to someone else.”

If you’d like to take on a new challenge and join our amazing colleagues, you can view our current vacancies here: https://www.careuk.com/careers.