On the 19th June, I will be organising a charity event to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society along with Dan, Jay, Asha and Jordan.

I've recently lost my Grandad who suffered from Vascular Dementia brought on by a stroke around 12 years ago. My Nan was also diagnosed with Dementia in the latter part of last year. The past few years have been really hard on them both, struggling to get to grips with their decreasing independence and deteriorating health. This has been really tough on my Mum and Ciro, she's cooked their meals, they've cleaned their house, done their shopping, as well as being my Mum and Nana to my little girl. Now that my Grandad has passed, my Nan has no choice really but to live with my Mum and Ciro (she wouldn't agree with that, 'I can look after myself' she said, as she called me Theresa for an afternoon). 

My Grandad was from Coelbren, and my Nan from the neighboring village Banwen in South Wales. They met each other in the 40s whilst working down the pit, where my Grandad was working as a blacksmith putting shoes on the pit ponies, and also taking care of the ponies that unfortunately suffered injuries and came to the end of their working life in the fields. They moved to Blackpool in the 50s with my Grandads sister, Auntie Eira and Uncle Viv, and they ran a couple of hotels, whilst my Uncle and Grandad worked for E.D Fusion installing Telephone poles around the town.

They were both fantastic opera singers, and I remember being over awed with all the trophies they had collected from the competitions they had entered, when I was little. Some say they were quite the legends on the scene at the time. My Grandad was a keen rugby player, having played for Fylde RFC. He watched every Welsh rugby games up until the end, and this year they absolutely stormed the 6 Nations and I just wish he could have seen them win it one last time. I've also heard that he cycled from South Wales to London and back on a couple occasions with his pals, just for a laugh.

What a life ey? Seeing everything they both achieved and how Dementia has affected them both is so sad, its such a debilitating disease that unfortunately affects so many individuals and their families. It's especially sad for those who do not have a family, for those who do not have the care they need. My Nans lucky in that sense, that we are there for her and we will do everything we can, but I can't help but think about the people who aren't so lucky. 

So I thought it would be quite fitting to do the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge for this fundraiser in honour of my Grandad, and my Nan and all the people who do suffer from Alzheimer’s or Dementia with 4 of my friends on the 19th June.

The Welsh Three Peaks Challenge, lesser known than the National or Yorkshire Challenges, takes in the three peaks of Wales: Snowdon in the North, Cadair Idris in mid-Wales, and Pen y Fan in the South. This includes a total walking distance of 17 miles (27.4km) and an ascent of 2334 metres (7657ft), usually in less than 24 hours.

As a team we would sincerely appreciate any donations to the Alzheimer’s Society to aid their work in research and supporting individuals and their families dealing with Dementia/ Alzheimer’s.

This challenge will be registered on the official Three Peaks website, and shared on social media.

Cysgu Dynn

Grandad x

22.9.1928 - 23.2.2021