In 2014, i lost my beautiful Grandma to Alzheimers. My Grandma was a very fit, energetic woman who had a sudden decline in health due to Dementia.

As a young teenager I helped care for and entertain my grandma, by talking to her, painting her nails, brushing her hair playing simple word games. I also helped my mum with all of her personal care. We tried as a family to create a familiar setting and her dog was allowed to visit her in her care home every day, keeping her surrounded by things and people she was familiar with showed a glimpse of her remembering little things which we all knew she loved.

My Grandma's dementia happened after a wound on her arm that she kept secret, this then led her to collapse. She was hospitalised and ended up having a major decline in health shortly after.

Prior to all of this, my mother asked if she could be referred to the memory clinic, to which there was an 18 month delay. My grandma eventually got assessed and diagnosed. But was unable to take the medicine in order to cloud her memory loss, due to another health condition she was suffering with. My family and I were heartbroken knowing a medicine to prolong her dementia had to be withheld from her.

Following years of decline and upset, my beautiful Grandma passed away peacefully in the presence of my Mother and Uncle on the 27th April 2013.

From this, i am now doing a Nuclear Mud Race on September 8th 2018, in order to raise money for Alzheimers UK.

I currently work in the Memory Team at Southend Hospital, and see on a daily basis how many families and friends are affected through Dementia every day. If i am able to raise enough money to help support and aid 1 or even 100 families, it will be one of the most incredible things i could ever do.

Dementia is something i feel very strongly about, having witnessed the affects first hand, i would like to raise money in order to help other families in the future.