I have decided to support Alzheimers and put my love of walking to a good cause.

I met Richard through NatWest. Here is his story.

Richard, 75, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in March 2023 though had been struggling for some years. Richard used to enjoy playing golf at The Dudsbury in Ferndown, was a member of the National Trust and enjoyed social occasions with his friends and colleagues from NatWest Bank. Richard and his wife Pat, who have been married 40 years, were looking forward to enjoying their retirement and spending time with their two beautiful grandchildren, Sophia and Benjamin, but Alzheimer's has changed all that. Richard now lives in a care home, the difficult but necessary outcome of the disease's relentless progression.

Alzheimer's is a cruel condition. Family visits now focus on creating a moment of connection rather than sharing new memories. Every interaction is a reminder of what has been lost. The financial and emotional weight of managing advanced care has been immense, forcing difficult decisions and significant life changes. Our shared goal now is to ensure Richard has the best quality of life possible while the family navigates this heartbreaking journey.

It's an emotional rollercoaster for all the family and anything that can be done to find a cure for this cruel disease, or at least help alleviate the symptoms at the earliest possible time, is so important. Please please donate. We can all make a difference.

The Society are working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives. They do this by giving help to those living with dementia today and by providing hope for the future by campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be and funding ground-breaking research.