I hadn't really thought much about Dementia until a family member was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. This is the most common of the brain diseases that cause Dementia. It was awful to watch helplessly, as this fit, happy and intelligent woman lost her ability to remember, think, make decisions and look after herself. There is no cure for this disease. It has a devastating impact on the life of the individual and their family. Caring for someone suffering from this disease is both mentally and physically exhausting. It is really saddening to see a person you know and love change, and fail to recognise family and friends. When eventually the person passes away you are left with mixed emotions. Grief associated with losing a loved one, and guilt for feeling relieved that their suffering has ended.



I have often thought of doing something to fundraise for research into this disease. I have toyed with ideas in the past but decided in my advancing years it was time to put thoughts into action.

I chose to fundraise on behalf of Alzheimer's Research UK because their work involves a network of Scientists throughout the UK working in unison. Their research provides information about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments relating to the different types of brain diseases that cause dementia. 

More information can be found here: http://www.azheimersresearchuk.org

I have set a target of £2600 and hope to achieve most of this by early August 2017. This will allow me to concentrate more on my fitness plan towards the date of the challenge. In addition to my JustGiving page. I will also be organising some fundraising events to help me achieve my goal. I hope if you will be able to support these too.

The challenge itself is to hike for 5 days along sections of the Great Wall with a group of approximately 20 people, none of whom I have met. The route, which avoids the main tourist routes takes us over watch towers, mountains and battlement stations. The trekking challenge is hard. We trek up and down steps each day, sometimes taking an hour to do 1km. We will travel 1000 steps up to the wall at Mutianyu and then up the "Heavenly Ladder". On the final day we have the privilege of assisting in a section of the wall that is being restored. We will get to place our own brick in the wall! (Queue for a song?). I am both excited and apprehensive about the challenge. For me personally, this will be both a mental and physical challenge. I will need to dig deep to cope walking the exposed ridges as I am not particularly comfortable in that environment. (Maybe blinkers would be an option!) As well as the physical stress on my old knees of walking up and down so many steps of varying height.

Thank you very much for your support for this fantastic cause. Hopefully their research will result in  a cure for this terrible disease. Every penny donated is very much appreciated by me personally and by Alzheimer's Research UK. Please give as much as you can for this great cause.

Thanks very much for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.