This year, my family has been experiencing Lewy Body Dementia in the most brutal way. From a disease we'd never heard of, we are now painfully aware of it and its effects.

The Lewy Body Society is Britain's only charity dedicated to Lewy Body Dementia (also the first in Europe). They're campaigning to raise awareness of this type of dementia - which I can tell you from experience is desperately needed, because hardly anyone you speak to is aware of it - and to research new treatments that could one day lead to a cure.

It's difficult to diagnose LBD which means that effective treatment that could help improve quality of life, or slow onset of symptoms, is delayed. Unlike some other types of dementia, LBD does not always present with memory problems early in the condition, another issue with getting it diagnosed quickly. LBD causes cognitive impairment, hallucinations (visual and auditory), difficulty with attention span, sleep disturbances, and Parkinson's symptoms (it's closely related to Parkinson's disease) like reduced mobility, difficulty gripping things, loss of strength, difficulty speaking and eating, and so on.

I wish I could tell you I was doing something brave to raise money, like climbing a mountain. It's a hard time financially for so many people, and it's a difficult thing to ask people to donate money to a disease they've likely not heard of. But, if you can spare anything at all to this cause and help stop a future family from going through what is probably the worst experience of our lives, then it would be gratefully received.

Thank you,

Marie & family

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