A big thank you to everyone who has already donated. When asked to do this by a friend, I said I’d rather DIE than give up sugar! The booze ...I can take or leave, especially in Lockdown 🥴However, it was upon reflection of this comment that I was overcome with a huge sense of guilt!

Whilst breastfeeding my eldest daughter Bella, many moons ago, I had an addiction to dark chocolate and oranges, this addiction has never left! She suffered very bad colic and I was advised to quit the chocolate!! I quit the oranges!!!That’s how bad I am! My Mother, who was an incredibly witty, fun loving, astute matriarchal figure ( also a fellow sugar addict) is now in a care home and has been there for nearly a year. She has been afflicted by Rapid Dementia/ Alzheimers due to a necessity to shield because of being high risk for Covid. I want her to LIVE and enjoy her final time and it’s heartbreaking to speak to such a phenomenal woman on the phone today and her not being the person I remember. Eventually after 15 minutes of saying “Hello Mum, hi Mammy, Mam” I began belting out old songs that we always sang together down the phone! Suddenly this brought back a glimmer and twinkle in her eye. Every Thursday we used to go to Novenas in Church and sing our much loved hymns. She was always singing. I didn’t care who was listening to me in that care home, I think I might have made a lot of residents sit up or cry!! She always instilled a belief in me that I could sing, now this was coming back to haunt her! I sang Panis Angelicus like I was auditioning for X factor, as up until that point in our conversation , there was not much response. I just about lost it when she started singing “Silent Night” back down the phone to me. I’m not overly religious but I’m so grateful of this small blessing that helped re-ignite a flame in my mother’s heart. She was smiling and she was happy. It was all about HER and ME desperately clinging on to whatever ounce of connection I could make. I love my Mum , she has never said that to me, but we just know ....... I miss her!
We are now back in full on lockdown,hence this will bring on further deterioration of her situation. I know I can’t cure her but I believe I owe it to her to make this small sacrifice to support mental illness, which is affecting millions of loved ones all over the world. I have been so touched by people’s generosity and I am so aware that there are a lot of people collecting for charities at the moment. So no pressure at all, but if you do have any pennies to spare, I’d greatly appreciate your support! I will even invite you to my sugar party in December as a thank you!! I’ll buy cakes. I know my limits😂❤️Alzheimer's Society. Here’s my JustGiving page, if you’d like to donate: