By Isle of Wight Observer
When St Vincent’s Retirement Home wanted to celebrate International Polar Bear Day, they decided to ask for some props to add to the enjoyment of the day.
Ryde’s Busy Bee lent the home an eight-foot cuddly polar bear to add to their chilly-themed celebrations.
The home’s manager, Jess McGovern, surprised the residents by dressing up in a 10-foot inflatable polar bear outfit. Various games and activities, involving staff and residents, were completed, and an ‘arctic lunch’ was provided by the chef.
International Polar Bear Day is designed to raise awareness of the challenges faced by polar bear cubs, which are born at this time in winter dens hidden under the snow. At birth, they are blind, weigh little more than one pound, and have only a light layer of fur to protect them from the cold. Families remain in the den until spring, when the cubs are finally large enough to survive the rigors of outside Arctic conditions. Barely half of cubs born make it to adulthood.
St Vincent’s celebrates something topical every month, with staff and residents getting involved.
Mal Butler