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Mel Powell, who is General Manager at Park View Care Centre in Ashford, is training to run the London Marathon for Children with Cancer UK on Sunday 21 April.

Mel joined the RCH Family in August of 2023. As a qualified nurse, Mel has worked in Health and Social Care for almost 16 years.

As the general manager of the Nursing and Residential Dementia care home she strives to inspire and support those she is working with and is passionate about mentoring and training, which Mel says “reinforces the team’s skills and ensures we are able to deliver the best possible person and relationship centred care.”

If you are looking for Nursing or Dementia care and support for a loved one, you can make an appointment to visit the home by calling Mel on 01233326966 or visiting their website for more information.

Since joining the home Mel has spearheaded various developments within the home including new Dementia Awareness Training and improvements to the home’s two dementia communities which now boast Montessori-themed engagement areas throughout which appeal to residents’ individual strengths, to encourage creativity, independence and individuality.

Through sharing her marathon journey, Mel hopes to continue to foster the person-centred and family-orientated atmosphere at the heart of the home and beyond, by also supporting local charities and dementia groups.

Residents, staff, families and loved ones at the Nursing and Residential Dementia home are following Mel’s Marathon training journey with a blog in the home’s newsletter, there are also a number of fund-raising events being held at the home before the big day on Sunday 21 April.

Mel has been a member of a local running club known as South Kent Harriers for some years and completed several marathons, including ones in Cyprus, Lanzarote and Malta as well as marathons in England.

However Mel has never been successful in securing a space in the London Marathon until this year.

Securing a charity place running for Children with Cancer UK Charity, a cause close to her heart, Mel revealed the journey will be a whole family affair.

“I will be running alongside my husband, son and daughter, as well as several other members of my family, we’ll get through it together.”

On Easter Sunday 31 March from 2pm, Mel and the team at the care home will be holding a charity car wash to raise funds for the Children with Cancer UK and Ashford’s Pilgrims Hospice and would love the local community to stop by and support them.

On the day, residents and the team will be planning to throw a party to follow Mel’s run not only by watching the live television coverage but also via the app using their Digital Rainbow Tablet, a large interactive screen which can be mobilised around so everyone can get involved and feel part of Mel’s marathon.