This is part of a PSHE project organised by Ruby, Megan, Ella, Francesca and Tom and Connor to raise awareness and money for a charity of our choice.

Dementia is a degenerative disease of the brain that makes you lose your memory. It gets worse and worse over a period of time. For the family members of the dementia sufferer - it's particularly hard as over time you see your loved one fading away.

Here is my (Ruby's) story:

My Grandad has had Alzheimer's disease (a type of dementia) for 9 years. He doesn't recognise me anymore and he can't speak but I can still make him smile with a hug. This photo was taken last summer before he went into a nursing home.

There are 850,000 people in the UK with dementia and it is said to rise to over 1million by 2025.

A few years ago my Grandma took my Grandad to a ' singing for the brain ' group because singing has been medically proven to not only bring joy to dementia sufferers but it also helps the memory. Music and memory have a powerful connector and the part of the brain that recognises music and lyrics is mostly undamaged by dementia. Music also helps to reduce anxiety and depression, helps to maintain speech and language and enhances quality of life and even gives the carers a much needed feeling of wellbeing.

Unfortunately the singing group run by the Alzheimer's Society had to close down due to lack of council funds. This left lots of families disappointed. For the carers it was the highlight of their week where they could meet with friends they'd made who are going through the same troubles, but also it meant that the dementia suffers would decline more quickly without their music group.

Kerry Braband, one of the singing leaders decided to set up her own charity called HERTS MUSICAL MEMORIES which has now been going for 2 years. She runs 13 singing groups all over Hertfordshire but the demand for new groups is increasing. Unfortunately my grandad is now in hospital and so he's too unwell to go anymore, but my Grandma keeps going as she has made good friends who are there to support her. Herts Musical Memories doesn't receive any funding so is entirely run on charity donations.

My class at Ashlyns School in Berkhamsted have all voted to raise as much money as we can for Herts Musical Memories. In a school competition if we manage to show creativity and good fundraising skills, Herts Musical Memories will be awarded an extra £1000 on top of the money we raise.

Please give generously. It will help families like mine who have a loved one who is suffering from dementia. Your donation will help our class to pay for a venue in Bourne End for over a year, so local people will be able to make the most of Herts Musical Memories.

My grandad absolutely loved his singing group. It's made really happy memories for my Grandma and they've both made lots of friends and Herts Musical Memories has kept him healthier and happier than he would have been if it never existed. When i play him Frank Sinatra his face still lights up. Our Year 9 class want to give other Grandparents suffering with dementia the same joy.

All donations will help, no matter how small, Thank you x