Story
<p>The fact that you are here means you are thinking about donating which is fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should explain why I asked.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My grandad, Aniello de Gregorio and I shared a birthday, the 25 August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he were still alive today he would have been 99 on my 40 birthday. He died aged 95.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">There are few people I view as a hero, but my grandad is on the list.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hard working man born in the south of Italy who came to England to make a better life for his family.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He was a man of few words, but I hung on every one of them. He loved his family, his garden, his wife's cooking and the odd glass of red wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He worked hard to keep southern Italian culture alive in Somerset and for that I love him even more.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and needed full time care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t see him enough towards the end of his life, but when I did I was convinced I could see a flicker of recognition in his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was probably wrong.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I decided to ask for donations to the Alzheimer’s Society in lieu of 40 birthday presents because I don’t need anything. And no one should have to watch someone they love fade away like you do if they are struck with this horrible disease.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Thank you so much for giving.</p>
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