Thanks for clicking on my JustGiving page. I'm anOccupational Therapist (OT) working in a Community Mental Health Team for OlderPeople in Enfield. My professional remit is to care coordinate approximately 10clients who've been diagnosed with a dementia. Consequently, much of my job isto also help the families who're living with those clients. It's a job I loveto do. To unwind after a day's work (and at weekends), I write, produce andperform industrial rock music. 

A few weeks ago, a couple of my work colleagues asked if Iwear anything other than black (my colleague Cynthia has nicknamed me TheTerminator due to the black boots, jeans, jacket and shades - if only I rode aHarley...). I wanted to quote Johnny Cash in response but alas, whilst tryingto offer my usual and well practiced response, my colleagues challenged me towear something other than black for one day. Initially, I had no intention ofactually honouring this challenge but then I thought that as this questionoften arises, maybe I could put this challenge to some good use; after all, I'man OT...and OT's specialise in meaningful activity with their clients. And sothe charity event was born...

The question that underpins this event - why have I worn onlyblack clothing since the age of 16 (without divulging too much personal info)?Put simply, it stemmed from school when I realised that hiding in the musicrooms was less stressful than playing sport (and schools back then wereseemingly obsessed with sport...). Around that time, I'd discovered UK gothbands (Fields of the Nephilim/The Sisters of Mercy etc) and US industrial bands(Nine Inch Nails/Ministry etc) and saw these musicians, clad in black andlooking ghostly (or ghastly, depending on your point of view). I loved thislook. It was an epiphany. By following these bands, I discovered a subculture(that some have since evolved from) that I've been part of ever since. Ithasn't entirely turned me - I've not dyed my hair black and only wore eyelinerwhen I got bullied and bribed by the make-up girl when filming at The Forum inKentish Town with my band for a TV show... But, put simply, everything I wearis black. So's my car...and a few other things that I won't mention here.

I'll admit, I occasionally wear a white t shirt if I'm onholiday and have to "blend" (though the black shorts and blackconverse remain) and I was ordered to wear a white shirt and matching tie at mywedding (my wife vetoed the black tie as she didn't want me to look like MrBlonde from Reservoir Dogs). She had a point. Other than that, if ain't black,I won't wear it. 

There you go. For one day, I shall mutter "asta lavista, baby" to my beloved black attire for a cause that it is muchneeded, especially in Enfield.

About that cause - why DementiaUK? Well, they provide AdmiralNurses to help carers cope with the day to day challenge of looking after theirloved one who've been diagnosed with a dementia. Their job is becomingincreasingly significant with the reduction of care homes, the reduction ofhospital beds and more budgets being squeezed. Here's a link to the DementiaUKwebsite for more information:https://www.dementiauk.org/how-we-help/

Please a have a look. As you're reading this, I don't know ifa member of your family has a dementia, or you know of someone who's livingwith a family member who's been diagnosed with a dementia and if so, you’llknow how important this charity is (and who knows what the future holds forus…). Either way, please tap into your PayPal account or credit card (or anyother preferred method of giving) and make a donation. No matter how small, itall helps. Thank you!