Several years ago Jess' Nan Gloria  was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and Dementia.

Every time we knock on the door we hope that the woman greeting us has that wide eyed excited look on her face,  gives us a big hug and then an even bigger shove into the kitchen to put the kettle on. More recently we get the timid little old lady, giving us that bewildered stare whilst she tries to work out who we are. But then Gloria, being Gloria, will still shove us into the kitchen to put the kettle on. 

It's not just witnessing this disease take over that has been tough, but watching Jess' family deal with the wider consequences of the illness. And we aren't the only ones who are. We both have friends that are  going through similar situations so it just proves that Alzheimer's and Dementia affects so many people for so many reasons. 

Some facts:

 - 850,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with         dementia and is expected to rise rapidly. 

 - 24% of males and 35% of females born in 2015 will develop dementia in their lifetime.

- If the onset of dementia was delayed by five years the savings would be £21.2bn a year by 2050

- 62% of people feel that a diagnosis of dementia means that their life is over

- There is currently no cure

As a result we want to help do something about it. Not just for those that have Alzheimer's & Dementia or those for that know someone who has it, but to raise more awareness  of the disease and the impact it has. 

We will be trekking half a dozen live volcanoes in Guatemala, at one point walking to the top of the highest peak in Central America. It will be no easy feat, but the pain will be worth it. 

Along with the money we raise, every £1 of UK public funding for research generates between £1.13 and £1.60 of private investment. 

Please help us raise what need. For our friends. For our families. For Gloria.