Harry and Jess are taking part in LondonMemoryWalk in October 2023.

This is a charity very close our hearts. Both of us have seen our grandparents struggle through this debilitating illness. It is one of the cruelest diseases. Watching those you love forget you and lose themselves along the way is heart wrenching.

Seeing first hand the effect dementia had on Harry’s family was very tough. In his final years, the care of Harrys grandad fell on the shoulders of his three wonderfully supportive children. They took turns having both their mother and father staying with them for short periods of time. Luckily, this allowed them to make the most of the time they had left with him and make some beautiful memories. No one should ever have to go through the pain of slowly watching a loved one forget everything in the world around them and losing their identity alongside it. This was tough for all of his family to witness but they perservered to ensure he was well looked after and the happiest he could be. They wish they had been given longer but with the time they had he always remained a big character at the heart of the family.

Jessicas grandad was diagnosed with Dementia 8 years ago. In that time it not only effected his memory but also his body. Througout his life he was an avid trainspotter, stamp collector and traveller but after many years of fighting against this disease it slowly stopped him from particpating in his hobbies. Dementia effected his ability to walk or stand for long periods of time. Eventually this led to him stopping work on the hand made minature railway he created in his garden and meeeting regulaly in London with members of his clubs and societies. However, he is a strong man and perservered at home by reading German and English railway magazines, keeping up to dat with his train societies, completing train puzzles and maintaining his stamp collection. His family have always been in awe at his ability to perservere and maintian his wonderful personality, including his amazing sense of humour. Unfortunately, during covid he suffered from a stroke and was permanently moved to a nursing home to support his needs. Not long after this, his wife (Jessica’s nanna) was diagnosed with Alziemers. Now Jessica’s family are watching two people slowly be consumed by this disease. As majority carer for her parents, Jess mum has stood by her parents side for the last ten years supporting them through their illnesses. A cruel factor Of the disease is that it effects everyone differently which means that even though both her parents have the same illness, they have needed very different care. Looking after them never gets easier but its what you do for those you care about.

By taking part in this walk we hope to raise money in order to support researcher into Alziehmers and Dementia in order to one day have a cure so noone ever has to mourn the loss of a loved one who is still alive infront of them. No parent should forget their child, wife forget their husband, grandparent forget their grandchild but unfortunately thats the reality with this disease. Even break throughs in slowing down the disease would give families of those loved ones relief because even one extra day with someone you love is priceless.

please donate wahtever you can to support this wonderful charity