Charlie, Amelia and I are taking part in a charity skydive for Alzheimer’s Research UK on Sunday 22nd April.

We are raising money so that we can support Alzheimer's Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, dedicated to causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment and cure. A percentage of the money raised will be used to cover the cost of the skydive, and the rest will fund pioneering scientific research into the diseases that cause dementia. Alzheimer's disease affects people in different ways: the impact can be physical, emotional and psychological, and can also profoundly affect the practicalities of everyday life. The money donated will help Alzheimer's research achieve their goal to bring about the first life-changing dementia treatment by 2025. Alzheimer's Research is intrinsic for the beating of this disease, so please donate whatever you can.

Our Irish Grandpa Lee suffers from Alzheimer's, which has already had a significant effect on his relationships and freedom. Unfortunately he has difficulties with decision making, problem solving, planning and sequencing tasks. Unexpected changes lead to a disorientation of time or place, and he often doesn't recognise familiar faces. Because of this, his life has been limited, and his wife's is increasingly changing, becoming more and more focused on keeping him calm and safe. And one day, in the not too far distant future, the veil will drop even further still and it will be our faces he doesn't recognise. Emotionally draining and hard to come to terms with, Alzheimer's causes people to slowly deteriorate. There is no cure.

The thought of him not knowing who we are is horrible, and more awful still as we know no body recovers from Alzheimer's: once diagnosed there is no revival. We want to do all that we can to prevent masses of other families experiencing what we do. Irish Grandpa doesn't know where we live, he doesn't remember the last time we were together - which somehow makes it more special - and sometimes he doesn't even know we are related. He has lost data and names and facts. But he still holds emotion and love for us, even when we are strangers to him. He stays in good spirits and never resists using profanity to get a laugh. Our grandfather, once the most censored author in Ireland, still maintains that he's irresistible to women, and sings beautifully without prompting. His talents are still mesmerising, but in more of a nostalgic way. I would say one positive, if not the only one, is that he forgets he's unwell.

It's so important for us to hold on to our precious memories of him, while he cannot hold onto his own memories of us. Please donate to Alzheimer's research. Nobody should have to forget their family. Nobody should be forgotten by their family.