Two sisters have held separate fundraisers to thank The Royal Star & Garter Homes for caring for their mother.

Erica Watkins and Alison Ukleja wanted to show their support and appreciation to the Charity, which has looked after their mother Julie for more than three years at its Surbiton Home.

Erica and her husband Tim walked 86km in Italy, raising over £2,500 for the Charity. Alison held a Prosecco lunch and plant sale, raising an estimated £640 in her home town of Lullington, Somerset, on Saturday 6 July.

Erica and Tim, from Esher, walked from Pisa to Siena along the Via Francigena in Tuscany, at the end of June. Erica said: “This was a way of thanking The Royal Star & Garter Homes for the excellent and compassionate care that they give to our mother.”

Alison’s Prosecco lunch also saw guests make floral headwear, and included a card sale featuring her own art work. All plants sold were also grown from cuttings or seeds from Alison’s own garden. She said: “We come to the Home regularly and see all the fantastic work they do. My mum has benefited hugely from being there, and we felt as a family we should do more to support the Charity.”

The Royal Star & Garter Homes cares for ex-Servicemen and women and their partners living with disability or dementia, and also has Homes in High Wycombe and Solihull.

Senior Community Fundraiser Lauren Baker thanked the pair, saying: “It’s great that Erica and Alison were able to use talents and things they enjoy doing to raise money for us, prompted by the care their mum receives. It will help us continue providing our award-winning care.”

Anyone interested in raising money for The Royal Star & Garter Homes can click here.