Hello!

Thanks for visiting our Just Giving page in aid of Alzheimer’s Society.

My Brothers and I have organised a Charity Golf Day in memory of our Mum, Ann, who we lost to Alzheimer’s in July 2023. We’ve had great interest in the Charity Golf Day and have been asked by those who cannot attend to set up a Just Giving page for them to donate to the cause instead.

Please contact me if you are interested in participating in the Charity Golf Day - spaces are filling fast!

betsy.harris@outlook.com

We really would appreciate any donations you are able to make! If you are unable to donate, please may I ask that you instead share this page amongst family, friends and colleagues. All donations made will go to Alzheimer’s Society in hope for a world where this thieving disease no longer exists.

A little bit about us

In 2012, at aged 51, and after a whole year of searching for answers, our Mum was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. Us 4, who, at the time were aged 17 (me, Betsy), Louie 19, Alfie 22 and Harry 25, didn’t have any idea what this meant for Mum or us. To be honest, as a family we had never even considered that Mum could have Alzheimer’s, at worst we thought it to be the menopause. Like many, we mistakenly believed that Alzheimer’s was a disease that only affected the elderly. From that day on it was an unbelievably cruel and painfully slow journey of losing the woman we were so fortunate to call our Mum. Over the course of 12 years, Mum’s memory and behaviours would drastically dip and then plateau. This was incredibly tough to deal with, as we’d just get our heads around the next deterioration and then another dip would occur. Every stage of the disease becomes more and more heartbreaking, there really is nothing that can prepare you for a disease that completely steals the person you know and love. The 4 of us were, and are so fortunate that we had one another throughout the 12 years, I can’t imagine how much harder it would have been without that support and shared understanding.

I want to share the poem I wrote and read for Mum at her funeral as I think it perfectly captures just how blessed we were to have been loved by her, and how much has been lost to the thief that is Alzheimer’s.

Nunight, Sleep Tight

Some are born to be Mothers, for you this was so clearly true. You raised four lovely children, a perfect reflection of you.

Your ability to nurture, it really was your thing. Mothering our friends like family, taking everyone under your wing.

Extra mouths to feed near enough every night. Not once would you grumble or ever put up a fight.

Everyone was included, whether they liked it or not. Forcing my friends to wear earrings, assuming they’d just forgot!

High heels wherever you went, the best dressed woman I’ve seen. I loved that about you, lipstick on no matter where you’d been.

Your silliness and goofy ways made you so easy to love. We’ll talk about you forever, hoping you’re listening up above.

You loved us unconditionally, through all our faults and flaws. Encouraged us to be better and were so proud to call us yours.

There’s so much you’ve missed and so much more to come. But there will always be a space for you, our very special Mum.

You’ll live on in each of us, forever bringing love and light. Rest peacefully now our beautiful Mum, Nunight, Sleep Tight.

Thanks for taking the time to visit our page. Let's fight together to end this debilitating disease!

Love Bets

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