Culduthel Care Home Team Gets Pretty Muddy for Charity

Six determined colleagues from Culduthel Care Home in Inverness swapped their usual uniforms for trainers, team spirit and a considerable amount of mud to raise almost £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Home Administrator Natasha Stewart, Senior Care Assistant Abbie Brian, and Care Assistants Michelle Clunas, Thabasum Khan, Reece Laird and Arianna Fraser travelled from Inverness to Strathclyde Country Park in Lanarkshire to take on the Pretty Muddy 5K.

The challenge involved running, jogging or walking five kilometres while tackling 12 inflatable obstacles. Along the route, the team faced tunnels, a scramble net, space hoppers and a climbing frame before completing the course with a giant inflatable slide into a mud pit.

It was messy, energetic and demanding, but every obstacle was taken on for a cause close to the team’s hearts.

Culduthel colleagues raise almost £2,000

The Culduthel team raised almost £2,000 to support Cancer Research UK and its work to develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

For some of those taking part, the challenge was deeply personal. Several members of the team have lost loved ones to cancer. Their experiences working in care have also brought them close to residents and families whose lives have been affected by the illness.

Natasha Stewart took part in memory of her granny.

She said: “I sadly lost my Granny to cancer, so I wanted to race for her and give back to this amazing charity. I would take part in it again as it was for such a great cause and I had such a rewarding feeling completing the run.”

Each person had their own reason for taking part, but together they turned those personal experiences into something positive.

From Inverness to Lanarkshire for a muddy challenge

Travelling from Inverness to Strathclyde Country Park made the event a full team adventure before the first obstacle had even begun.

Back at Culduthel, residents followed the team’s progress and cheered them on from afar. Afterwards, they enjoyed hearing about the journey, the obstacles and, naturally, exactly how muddy everyone had become.

Care Home Manager Denise Scott said the whole home was incredibly proud of its “six warriors”.

She said: “Unfortunately, through family experiences and also working in care, we all know just how difficult cancer is to go through, and the impact it has on people’s lives.

“We were so proud of our six warriors taking on this messy challenge and raising money for such an important cause. They all had great fun, and our residents were cheering them on from afar as they travelled from Inverness to Glasgow to take part.

“We loved hearing about their escapades and the phenomenal amount of money they raised. Well done, team!”

Colleagues making a difference beyond the care home

Community involvement and charitable activity are an important part of life at Meallmore. They give residents and colleagues opportunities to connect around shared causes and support organisations that matter to them.

The Pretty Muddy challenge also reflects our C.A.R.E. values, particularly recognising the contribution of colleagues and creating environments of kindness where people feel supported.

Although six colleagues completed the course, the effort became something the entire Culduthel community could share. Residents encouraged the team, colleagues supported the fundraising, and friends and families helped donations move towards the almost £2,000 total.

It follows wider fundraising activity across our homes. In 2025, residents, colleagues and communities collectively travelled more than 7,000 miles and raised £7,000 through our Meallmore Miles challenge for Cancer Research UK.

These challenges bring people together through movement, laughter and a shared sense of purpose. They also demonstrate that supporting wellbeing and local communities extends far beyond the walls of our care homes.

A supportive team at Culduthel Care Home

Culduthel is a 65-bed care home on West Heather Road in Inverness. The home offers modern private ensuite rooms and comfortable shared spaces, including lounges, dining areas, a cinema room, café areas, landscaped gardens and a hair and beauty salon.

Our team provides personalised nursing care, dementia care, residential care and respite and short-stay care, with support tailored to each resident’s needs, preferences and routines.

The teamwork that helped Natasha, Abbie, Michelle, Thabasum, Reece and Arianna complete Pretty Muddy is also present in daily life at the home.

Colleagues across care, nursing, administration, catering, housekeeping, maintenance and activities work together to help residents feel safe, comfortable and truly at home.

Culduthel was also recently recognised for achieving “Very Good” Care Inspectorate grades. Read more about the home’s approach to quality, active living and continuous improvement in “Very Good” for Culduthel Care Home in Inverness.

Meaningful activity and community connection

At Culduthel, meaningful activity is shaped around the people who live in the home.

This can include hobbies, social occasions, gentle movement, entertainment, time outdoors and connections with local organisations and schools. The aim is not simply to fill time, but to create opportunities for enjoyment, conversation, confidence and connection.

Residents did not need to take part in a 5K obstacle course to share in the excitement. Following the team, hearing their stories and celebrating their achievement created another shared experience within the home.

Our wider approach to personalised care services recognises that wellbeing includes physical, emotional and social needs. It means getting to know each resident as an individual and supporting the routines, relationships and interests that matter to them.

This focus also sits within Meallmore’s People, Planet, Process commitment, which includes investing in colleagues, supporting communities and delivering responsible, high-quality care.

Part of one of the UK’s top-rated care home groups

Culduthel is part of Meallmore’s family of care homes across Scotland.

Our story began in the Highlands in 1987, when we opened our first care home near Inverness. You can learn more about that journey and how Meallmore has developed over almost four decades on our Meallmore story page.

In 2026, Meallmore was named one of the Top 20 Large Care Home Groups in the UK by carehome.co.uk. The recognition was based on verified reviews from residents, families and friends.

For us, achievements such as this and the Pretty Muddy fundraising challenge come back to the same thing: people who care deeply about residents, one another and the communities they serve.

A huge congratulations goes to Natasha, Abbie, Michelle, Thabasum, Reece and Arianna, and a sincere thank you to everyone who supported their fundraising.

The team may have crossed the finish line covered in mud, but they did so with plenty of pride and almost £2,000 raised for an important cause.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Culduthel Care Home?

Culduthel Care Home is located on West Heather Road in Inverness, IV2 4WS. The home supports residents from Inverness and communities across the surrounding Highland area.

What types of care does Culduthel provide?

Culduthel provides nursing care, dementia care, residential care and respite care. Support is personalised around each resident’s health needs, preferences, independence and wellbeing.

What was the Pretty Muddy challenge?

Pretty Muddy is a 5K obstacle course. The Culduthel team completed a route featuring 12 inflatable obstacles, including tunnels, space hoppers, a scramble net, a climbing frame and a slide into a mud pit.

How much did the Culduthel team raise?

The six colleagues raised almost £2,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Who took part from Culduthel Care Home?

The team was made up of Home Administrator Natasha Stewart, Senior Care Assistant Abbie Brian, and Care Assistants Michelle Clunas, Thabasum Khan, Reece Laird and Arianna Fraser.

Can families arrange a visit to Culduthel Care Home?

Yes. Families can contact the Culduthel team to discuss individual care needs, ask questions and arrange a visit to the home.

Where can families find information about paying for care?

Families can read our care funding advice, which explains some of the funding routes and considerations involved when choosing a care home.

How can I learn more about Culduthel Care Home?

Explore the home’s facilities, care options, photographs and contact details on the Culduthel Care Home page.