Hi everyone

This October I am running in the Bath to Bristol Railway Race which is 25km along the Bristol to Bath cycle path for the charity AliveActivties.

AliveActivities is a Bristol based charity that puts on events including Memory Connections which support people with low to moderate dementia to maintain their cognitive ability through stimulating activities and social engagement. Using Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) which is designed to maintain memory skills, build confidence and offer opportunities for socialisation in a supportive environment. https://aliveactivities.org/

About 2 years ago my mum, Sue, was diagnosed with early onset dementia. Running was something that my mum did all the time and was certainly an inspiration to me; running a marathon at 60 and doing over 300 parkruns.

Explaining the feeling of seeing someone go through this disease is difficult. It takes away someone you love in front of your eyes and I imagine, like other diseases, makes you feel powerless to stop it. On a slightly nicer note this is made 1000 times easier by the fact my Mum is mostly in a good mood, always joking and always seeing the funny side of life.

Whilst I know how much my Mum is going through it can be the people around someone suffering which are hit the hardest. Things like Memory Connections that Alive put on have helped my Mum and Dad meet people on the same journey, talk and confide but also realise they are not alone.

Donating to Alive helps keep these events going and provide a really invaluable service to dementia patients and their families.

Any donations however small are greatly appreciated!

Ewan x