In December 2016 our family changed forever. It was just a few days before Christmas when my dad was diagnosed with Dementia, specifically Pick's Disease. 

My dad was my best friend, my biggest cheerleader, and I know a lot of you may challenge me on this, but I do believe he was the greatest dad in the world... I am willing to fight you on this (just kidding, this is a charity page, let's not take this outside). Never in my life did I ever expect to be faced with this challenge (my dad getting dementia, not the trek, although that was also a bit of a shock). 

But seriously dementia destroyed so much of my family and I's life. My dad's decline was incredibly rapid, I was away working abroad when he was was diagnosed and just 7 months later when I returned, I came back to an entirely different dad, it felt like a different life. It was utterly heartbreaking to witness someone I loved so much being ripped away from me without being able to do anything. We all felt helpless and crushed that we couldn't do anything to stop what was happening.

In 2021 just 5 years after diagnosis my dad suddenly passed away. It was a huge shock to us all and is still something I find very difficult to wrap my head around. Since my dad's diagnosis I have tried to share my story as much as possible, I wish I'd been a little more prepared for what happened to us. 

Dementia devastates so many lives and can feel so isolating and lonely. Alzheimer’s Society are working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. They do this by giving help to those living with dementia today and by providing hope for the future by campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be and funding ground-breaking research.
Thank you so much for anything you choose to donate, it means a lot more than you know. XXXXX