It’s been purrs alongside prayers recently at St Mary’s Church in Newton, with Freddie the robot cat attending church services with the Reverend Sheila O’Flaherty.
Life-like Freddie’s furry antics during services included responding to touch and sound, meowing, stretching, rolling over and purring for attention.
Enchanted by his engaging ‘purrsonality’, St Mary’s congregation set about raising funds to help Tameside Rotary supply one of Freddie’s robotic cat companions to local care home, The Sycamores, also in Newton.
Whilst Freddie catnapped on the church pews and basked in the glory of his video soundbites (church services are recorded live) the congregation raised £100.
The Rev Sheila, Freddie’s custodian for the past month, said: “We are going to miss Freddie’s presence at St Mary’s where he has inspired smiles and laughter.
“However, on a more serious note, I have taken Freddie on outdoor socially-distanced visits with parishioners and it’s been heartwarming to see the effect an interactive cat companion can have in lifting the spirits of those suffering greatly from isolation and loneliness during this pandemic.”
Andy Williams, treasurer at Tameside Rotary, confirmed: “The congregation of St Mary’s have been able to witness, first hand, the joy and comfort a robotic cat companion can provide.
“It is thanks to their thoughtfulness and generous sponsorship, that we have been able to provide The Sycamores with their own robotic cat companion.”
Accepting the robotic cat companion from Tameside Rotary, Renee Bell, well-being co-ordinator at The Sycamores Care Home, on Victoria Street, said: “We are so grateful to the congregation of St Mary’s for their kindness and generosity in sponsoring this cat companion which will help reduce stress and alleviate anxiety for many of our residents living with dementia.”
Freddie has now returned to the care of Tameside Rotary but continues in the role of social media influencer to promote the benefits of robotic cat companions for care home residents living with dementia.
To find out more about Tameside Rotary’s robotic cat companion appeal or to donate please visit www.TamesideRotaryClub.com or justgiving.com/campaign/catcompanions.
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