Here I go again!

In 2019 my lovely mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

She became one of the growing number of people living with the disease. (it's estimated over 850,000 people live with a form of dementia in the UK)

In 2020 I helped them relocate to be nearer to me in Shropshire so I can be close by to support too.

Sometimes called 'the long goodbye', dementia sees you watch the person you love gradually disappear and slowly become a shadow of their former self. Ironically, the worse it gets, the easier it becomes for the person with the condition - and harder for those who love and care for them;The journey is a tough one and although I'm a pretty strong person, there have been many times I thought my heart had just shattered into a million pieces.

At the time of writing, mum has continued her sad decline. She doesn't always recognise the people closest to her and struggles to formulate sentences. Most heartbreaking is her not recognising her own reflection and believing 'she' is an entirely other person.

The additional support I suspected we would need is in place and, although she remains at home with my Dad, there are visits from friends and carers to support him each week.

That support is priceless and much needed for so many families. It's why I continue to support Dementia UK

At a time where I have no control, walking allows me to take some control back. My journey, in its own small way, represents Mum's journey with dementia.

In April and May 2023 I completed both the Camino Frances and Camino Finisterre to Muxia (a combined journey of 536 miles or 900km) In May 2024 I walked the Camino Portuguese from Porto to Santiago (168 miles or 272km ). In 2025 I walked 321km (200 miles) on the ‘original’ Camino route - the Primitivo - the route first walked in the 9th century, through the mountains of Asturias and Galicia.

This year (2026) I'm completing a new route, the Camino Ingles. 110 miles from Ferrol to Santiago. I'll be walking in August this year, so it will be a warm one!

I'm supporting Dementia UK because at a time when there can feel like no hope, they provide hope. They focus on life and living, rather than death and dying.

My mum always said 'where there's life, there's hope' and never truer are her words than now.

Please donate if you can. Mum, me and thousands like us remain eternally grateful for every pound you can spare💕

Here is Dementia UK's story:

We are Dementia UK – the specialist dementia nurse charity.

Our nurses, known as Admiral Nurses, who we continually support and develop, provide life-changing care for families affected by all forms of dementia – including Alzheimer’s disease.

Our nurses are here when people need help. They have the time to listen and the knowledge to solve problems. As dementia specialists, Admiral Nurses help families manage complex needs – considering the person living with dementia and the people around them – and they can advise other healthcare professionals.

For families affected by dementia, they can be a lifeline.

When people are struggling, our nurses help them take back control. They help people living with dementia to stay independent for longer, and support the people caring for them so they have the strength to cope with the bad days, and the energy to enjoy the good days.

We believe Admiral Nurses give people the quality of care that we would all want for ourselves and our loved ones – and we’re working hard to increase the number of nurses across the UK so no one has to face dementia alone.

Why Admiral Nursing?

Admiral Nurses were named by the family of Joseph Levy CBE BEM, who founded the charity. Joseph had vascular dementia and was known affectionately as “Admiral Joe” because of his love of sailing.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.