Woman to help elderly with winter care packages

Samantha Taylor has been fundraising for the winter care packs since January

A woman will be handing out free care packages to vulnerable elderly people over winter after about 10 months of fundraising.

Samantha Taylor, from Stoke-on-Trent, started a string of charity challenges when she turned 40 years old in January to raise money for her initiative No Cold for the Old.

These have included bungee jumping, run challenges, and creating Halloween and Easter hampers, which together have so far raised about £6,000.

"The original idea of mine, when I turned 40, was to do a 40km (24.8-mile) run every month of the year," she told BBC Radio Stoke.

"That was just the foundation of the charity work and everything has been built on top - it's been going throughout the year."

She said she was currently in the middle of a challenge which involved 17 people doing 100 devil presses – burpees with double dumbbell snatches – every day in November, which she described as a "toughie".

'Bringing people together'

All the money raised will go towards purchasing items for the packages which will be donated to vulnerable elderly people to help them stay warm during the colder months.

Ms Taylor said they would include blankets, draft excluders, hot water bottles, hats and gloves, as well as mince pies.

The deliveries were due to begin at the end of November, she added, and people would be able to nominate those who need them by contacting her on social media.

She has also teamed up with Stoke-on-Trent businessman Arfan Mohammed to identify some recipients and will be working with social housing firm Aspire Housing.

"It has been a lot of work and I have thoroughly enjoyed it," she added. "I love the organising, helping people and bringing people together."