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 still knows who dad and I am, but only just. Her mobility is becoming more limited and she is unable to look after herself. My dad is brilliant, but I know things are beginning to become more challenging for him. That’s hard to watch too, despite his positivity.

Mum won't get better. She will continue to decline and we will probably need to call on additional support in the future. And that's why I have chosen to support Dementia UK.

I walk because at a time where I have no control, this 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 ). This year I am walking 321km (200 miles) on the ‘original’ Camino route - the Primitivo - the route first walked in the 9th century. It’ll be my toughest yet, through the mountains of Asturias and Galicia. Am I ready? Are we ever!

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 says 'where there's life, there's hope' and never truer are her words than now.

I’ll be creating an audio blog for BBC Shropshire - I did one last year and they asked if I will do the same again. It will be aired on the breakfast show on the dates I’m walking (17th-29th May 2025)

Please donate if you can💕

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.