When you think of Alzheimer's, most people will instinctively think of the older generation and relate it to a grandparent, older relative or those that are towards the latter stages of life, but this isn't always the case.

In January 2017 at the age of just 59 my mum was officially diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's following 2 years of noticeable symptoms and changes in her personality. 

It is often thought of as just memory loss and forgetting where you put things, but that is just one of many early signs. Basic planning, decision making, problem solving, or even taking part in a conversation become challenging and frustrating. It can make you anxious, irritable, depressed and withdrawn. The true reality is that it's a cruel disease, stripping people of their personality and soul, making them a shadow of the person they once were. By the end of it Alzheimer's will take everything - knowing how to speak, feed yourself, dress yourself, go to the toilet, and eventually, life.

My mum was an amazing pediatric nurse for over 30 years. She was uber organised, effervescent, life of the party, fondly known as the hostess with the mostess to her friends. The sad fact is these things are all being taken away, there is no cure, and soon it will only be a memory.

It is now the number 1 cause of death in women in the UK, having doubled since 2001, and by 2050 over 2 million people will have dementia of some kind. But it isn't just a part of getting old as many think - it is a physical disease the same as cancer or heart disease, just one that eats away at your brain connections until your body doesn't know how to function anymore - but unlike the other top 10 causes of death there’s no way to prevent, cure or even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

This is why Alzheimer's Society needs our help, firstly to fund their research to try and find the causes and hopefully a cure, but also help raise the awareness and profile of the disease. There is still a level of shame and stigma surrounding Alzheimer's in a similar way there was with cancer in the past. Celebrities and other public figures that were affected would rather hide than be voices of hope for people in similar situations and although it is improving, it seems this is where we are currently at with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, Alzheimer’s Society is attempting to transform the landscape of dementia forever. Until the day we find a cure, they will create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice. Through research, they're learning more about dementia every day. They’re looking at how it might be prevented and diagnosed earlier, and how to improve quality of life for people living with the condition. The more we understand, the more we can do to help people stay independent and live the life they want for as long as possible.

So hopefully, by toiling in sweat around London and the Surrey hills on a bicycle for 100 miles, I can do my bit to raise awareness, and please, if you can dig deep, any amount big or small, you can do your bit also to fund the much needed research for this great cause.

Thank you so much,

Tom xxx