As a doctor with an unquenchable passion for brain health and preventive medicine, I’ve spent years advocating for a lifestyle that supports not only our body but also our mind. I’ve seen, both professionally and personally, how challenging dementia can be — not only for those diagnosed, but for their families and communities. And yet, I’ve also seen how much hope, joy, and possibility still exist for those living with dementia, especially when the right support is in place.

That’s why I’ve chosen to embark on an adventure that embodies all the things that boost our brain, reduce our risk of dementia, and slow disease progression if met with a diagnosis.

From the 1st to 20th August I’ll be hiking the stunning 300+km Pekoe Trail in Sri Lanka in support of the UK charity, Dementia Adventure. It’s a Mission with a Momentous Message:

- To raise awareness that we can improve our brain at any age or stage of life

- To support a remarkable organisation making a tangible difference

- To demonstrate that small consistent steps add up to a big impact.

Dementia Adventure is an incredible charity that believes in something I wholeheartedly support: that life does not end with a diagnosis of dementia. Too often, people with dementia are isolated and stripped of the experiences that give life meaning — adventure, nature, connection and purpose. Dementia Adventure challenges that narrative by providing supported holidays and outdoor experiences for people living with dementia and their carers. They enable families to create joyful memories, access nature safely, and rediscover a sense of freedom and exhilaration.

They also offer vital training and education for carers and health professionals, equipping people with the skills to support those with dementia compassionately and confidently. This work is critical, and it needs more voices, more awareness, and more funding to expand and continue.

Living adventurously is a prescription for brain health.

This trek is also deeply personal. For ten years, I cared for my father at home as he lived with both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia. My hike along the Pekoe Trail is also a tribute to him — to the values he instilled in me, the humour he retained throughout his illness, and the lessons he taught me about crusading for what I believed in. With every step I take, I honour his memory and the countless families walking this path right now.