Team Bowen Members: Chris, Simon, Ben, Liv, Jen, Andy, Millie, Dom, Dave, Julie and Megan.  

In 2015, we lost our heart when Ben Bowen succumbed to Alzheimer's. He was our Dad, our Grandad, our champion, our friend and our world is a little bit darker without him. 

But this is an illness we can beat! No one needs to lose their stories, their memories or their pasts. If waking up with sore legs is what we need to do, then that's what we'll do! So on the 16th of September 2017 we are joining forces again to walk the hell out of Canterbury! 

From Chris (Ben's daughter): Dad loved stories. What better way to remember him than walking the old pilgrimage trail of Chaucers 'Canterbury Tales'. And while we're at it, let's give Alzheimer's a good kicking too; tales are to remember, not just the ones you hear but the ones you tell too.

From Ben (Ben's grandson):

A Derffe fader ofe Caerdyf ere being,
Ycleped Ben, bedele swyche tale hereing,
A soule of kynde worde and wel largesse
Y tellen tale oft of him and his largenesse!
A clerke he was, ful of graielis lernyng,
And wis fadirhode and grat bellamying,
Auctour yn bellewys of loh and louy ilyke,
Disour, coumforde, segger and beswyke,
Neuer pyked amaiig foo Englyschmen,
Wan Cymraig desport hystoriale amen,
Dere fader hete fram us allit eftsone,
be koward syknesse enchesune,
nae bale, for Derffe fader ist beclipte awangelys,
To telle, drinke and mynne anewe in blys

(A grand father of Wales there was,
Called Ben, teller of tales and stories
Full of kind words and generosity
I have told many stories of this and his largeness!
A scholar he was, full of religious learnings
And was a good father and friend
Author of great laughter and love alike
And jokes and comfort, tricks and cheats,
Never quailed at foul englishmen
When the Welsh played to correct history
This father was taken from us all too soon
By (this) coward sickness
But fear not for he is with the angels
Where he can tell tales, drink beer and remember again, in heaven)

From Megan (Ben's granddaughter): When you see a man who loved telling stories to his grandchildren struggling to remember his stories, it's sad. When you see a man who loved telling stories to his grandchildren struggling to remember his grandchildren, it's heartbreaking. Alzheimer's needs to be stopped! 

Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever.Until the day we find a cure, we will create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice.