On the 6th of June, myself and a few friends are taking on Tough Mudder. I’m looking to fundraise in memory of my granny, Melba Shearer, by raising money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

Granny was a very outdoorsy person who loved walking her dogs, visiting beaches, baking, and spending time with friends and family. From around 2019, her memory gradually began to worsen, and she found it harder to do many of the things she had once enjoyed. She would often repeat the same conversations, complete the same food shop twice, and gradually grew quieter than she had been before. She was eventually diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2024.

With time, everyday life became more challenging for both her and those around her, but we were lucky to have great support from friends, neighbours, and the staff at Smiddybrae Care Home, who looked after her brilliantly.

Granny passed away in March of this year. Seeing the impact dementia can have on a loved one has made it clear just how important research into these conditions is. I hope that the money raised here can help support that work. Alzheimer’s Research UK fund research into all forms of dementia, including vascular.

Even a few pounds would make a real difference, and anything you can spare would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers! :)

From Alzheimer’s Research UK:

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.