A leading Shropshire care company is supporting a new community health centre in Church Stretton by raising funds towards a much-needed £100,000 to finish the project.

Staff and friends of Bluebird Care, based in Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, are taking part in an ambitious four day, 60 mile, sponsored dog walk across Shropshire countryside.

The walk will raise funds for the Mayfair Community Centre which is planning to develop health and social care services in south Shropshire. The project needs to raise a further £100,000 in order to secure £800,000 already pledged to develop the adjacent health centre – with plans to start early in 2014.

Bluebird Care colleagues are hoping people from the wider community will join them for all or part of the sponsored walk, with dogs allowed, which will start at noon on Friday, October 18 from the Bluebird offices on Lansdowne Road, Bayston Hill.

The group will then walk over Lyth Hill and along the Shropshire Way to the Stiperstones before dropping down towards Bishops Castle. From there they will walk along the Wenlock Edge via Craven Arms and over Caradoc and the Long Mynd, through Cardingmill Valley and into Church Stretton to the Mayfair Centre where the walk will finish four days later at lunchtime on Monday, October 21.

Support is being provided by local pet-food supplier, Chris Barnes of Trophy Pet Foods, who is providing a back-up vehicle to follow the walkers and make sure all the dogs and participants are well looked after.

Director of Bluebird Care, Ian Barnes and Carl Morgan, care co-ordinator, are taking on the whole walk of 20 miles per day and camping overnight.

Bluebird Care hope to be taking a spot in the planned Mayfair Centre project where advice will be offered about providing care at home to elderly and vulnerable people to enable them to stay living independently in their own homes.

Ian Barnes said: “The Mayfair Centre is a nationally recognised and award-winning community centre and charity. The new addition to the centre is aimed at offering services for the elderly, including a café, arts classes, a chiropodist, Macmillan, links to doctors and Bluebird Care among other services.

“The centre and community have already raised a huge amount to acquire and refurbish the adjacent building, but need a final push so this innovative project and much needed resources can be realised for the people of south Shropshire. I hope that people will join us for all or part of the walk and or sponsor Bluebird Care in this endeavour.”

If you would like to request a sponsorship pack and join Bluebird Care, or sponsor their efforts, call them on 01743 874343 or email Shropshire@bluebirdcare.co.uk.

For further advice or help, please contact Bluebird Care Shropshire or visit the website  www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/shropshire