I am doing this challenge for my mother Sheila, who was a very special person, she loved children and animals, and collected waif's and strays throughout her life, positively impacting many young lives. My mother was the feistiest of women, until her diagnosis and she suffered many years with Alzheimer's and Cardiovascular Dementia.

Alzheimer's is an insidious disease that slowly robs a person of everything they have ever known, and they lose their lives in the most undignified way possible, utterly dependent on others to care for them. Their journey is one of confusion, fear and loneliness, and is heart-breaking to witness. That is why I am taking on the 100km Sahara Trek, to raise money to help find a cure for this most evil of illnesses.

Every 3 minutes dementia steals a happily ever after. Research is our only chance of changing the ending for people affected by dementia.

We are the UK's leading dementia research charity. We exist for a cure.

Your donation helps our scientists and researchers find new ways to diagnose dementia, develop new treatments and find a cure for dementia.

Watch and share our new film: https://bit.ly/ARUKForACure