Samantha Bennett
Samantha Bennett's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Alzheimer's Society
Story
I'd just like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who has donated to this worthy cause! This is so close to my heart, as many of you know, so this means the absolute world to me and my family. I just hope that it doesn't become boring for you, only a few more weeks of me badgering you, I promise! 
I've just upped my target....why not hey! I've hit the £500 mark, with the help and support from all y ou lovely people, please please pass my page onto all your friends and ask if they would like to support this worthy cause. Thanks again...now carry on reading.
Hiya to everybody visiting my page.
As most of you may know, my mum Marlene Bennett age 70 (opposite with me at my wedding last year), has Alzheimer's and is unfortunately in the late stages of it.
Alzheimer's is not just about memory loss and it is not a disease that affects just elderly people. This appalling and debilitating disease kills the sufferer’s brain cells slowly, first leading to a loss in short-term memory followed by changes in personality, a loss of ability to think logically and to perform simple tasks like making a cup of tea or reading a letter or newspaper. The sufferer then loses their ability to control bodily functions such as walking and going to the toilet, as well as their ability to communicate. The final stages of Alzheimer’s affect the sufferers’ ability to eat as they ‘forget’ how to swallow leading to unimaginable anguish for their carer’s as they have to watch their loved ones wither. Ultimately as the brain cells continue to die and the brain continues shrinking (likened to a sponge drying up), the lungs and heart next become affected as the brain forgets how to tell them to work. The whole process from the start of diagnosis to the inevitable end can take anywhere from six to ten years to occur. This really is the long goodbye!
In the last 18 months, we have seen my mum go from an able-bodied, intelligent, loving mum and mamma to being bed-ridden, barely able to communicate with her family and totally dependent on those around her. We are told that, eventually, she will also forget how to chew and swallow food completely, the implications for which are unthinkable. The final stage of Alzheimer's actually affects the brain cells that deal with breathing and the heart. The journey from the start of diagnosis to the enivitable end can last anywhere from 6-10 years! My mum isn't even in her 5th year yet!
A quick update for you all.....my dad is now doing the walk with us too......yes he's gonna brave the elements, getting his walking boots on and is prepared to be seen out with us all....lol.
Me, Shelly, Danny and the dogs have decided to do the sponsored walk for the Alzheimer's Society on 21st September 2008, to help raise money into research for a cure for this horrible, devastating disease! A cure is too late for my mum now but hopefully there's a better outlook for future sufferers with the developement of a new drug, rember TM but more funding, tests and trials are still needed for this and more drugs like it, so that's why we're doing the walk, our little bit to help.
The walk is only three miles long so we have decided to double that distance and go round the course twice. So please sponsor us, either through this website ( how technology progresses hey lol ) or through contacting me to add you to my paper sponser form. Every little helps and it all goes to the Alzheimer's Society.
Thanks for taking the time to look at my page.
Love Sam, Shelly, Danny and of course Toby and Simba.....xxxx
I have posted a video that I took of my mum in July. She used to love singing to Josef Locke so I play the CD for her very often. As you can see, she no longer as the ability to sing along. I'm sorry if this is upsetting for some people but I really do want to get the message across for people to support the research into finding a new treatments for this disease. There is currently no cure for this disease, there has never been anyone who has lived through it to tell how it felt and how they beat it. Please help us to make this illness a thing of the past, by sponsoring us.
Thanks again.
Thanks for visiting my fundraising page.
Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Alzheimer's Society gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.
So please sponsor me now!