My mother has Alzheimer's. Week by week we experience more and more loss of who she is and who she was, with endless bewilderment, anguish, sadness, anger, fear, denial ... if only it could be possible to agree with her worldview, where things for her seem to be 'right' but it's often simply not possible any more. My father is being pushed to desperation. Our carers are endlessly patient but it doesn't always help! We in the family are doing what we can, to be lovingly with them in it, but at times it feels to me like drowning.

After a near breakdown last autumn I realised I needed to do something to rebalance my life if I am to continue to support my mother and father, as well as survive and thrive in my marriage and family life, my work and hobbies. I decided to walk the Camino de Santiago, a 500 mile long pilgrimage route through northern Spain. Alone. I need to go; I need to be out and away from it all. I need to drop all of my home responsibilities to seek simplicity and peace, and tend to my weary soul. Day by day for perhaps 6 weeks I will strap on my boots, hoick up my backpack and walk, step by step by step. Eat when I'm hungry, rest when I need to, and find a bed each night where hostels offer to host pilgrims. Allow delight once again in beauty and nature and strangers I will meet. Be me.

You can follow my progress on the FindPenguins app.

And perhaps you might like to take this opportunity to show your solidarity with me, with us, with all who live with this cruel disease, by making a contribution towards one of my two chosen charities, Herts Musical Memories and Alzheimer's Society. HMM is a locally based charity which offers amazing social and emotional support to people living with Dementia with singing groups; I am on the board of trustees. Alzheimer's Society undertakes the best scientific research into possible treatments and cures. Perhaps you and I will not have to live and suffer and die with this disease in future.

Thank you, my friends