Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever.

With an aging population, dementia is becoming an increasing risk to all of us. Over 850,000 people are currently suffering in the UK alone with this degenerative disease of the brain. By 2025 it is expected that there will be over 1 million dementia sufferers in the United Kingdom. With one in three people dying from this heart breaking disease, everyone will become affected by it at some point. Alzheimer's society work with the Dementia sufferers and their families to provide support. They are making awareness as so many suffer in silence believing it is just 'part of getting old.' Lastly they are searching for the important cure. 

Amy's story

After my dear grandma lost her five year battle to Alzheimer's in October I felt it was time to give something back to the charity.

Danny was diagnosed with the Alzheimer's form of dementia when her husband was still alive. She kept getting confused and despite confirmational diagnosis from the consultant he failed to believe she was suffering from this mental illness. She continued to nurse him for the next couple of years despite battling herself. When my grandfather passed away her dementia got dramatically worse. Minutes after he had died she was concerned that she wouldn't be able to meet her friend for coffee that morning- something which was not emotionally normal after what had just happened. As her normal routine was lost, her severity of dementia was revealed. She would ring me time and time again during my uni lectures, not realising we had only just spoken. She couldn't understand why her cat didn't want to eat Jammy Dodgers or tomato soup. We finally decided she was a danger to herself when she took a warfarin overdose- resulting in being admitted to hospital due to the severity of her bruising. She wasn't too popular in hospital as she would steal things from other patients cupboards! Although we tried having carers in several times a day, in 2013 it was decided it would be in her best interest to move her into a specialised dementia care home.

From being a respected Sister in the gynaecology ward at Southend hospital she had become someone that was no longer my grandmother.  Swearing, hitting, crying when I left her, incontinence, playing with her faeces, believing her teddies were her children- all heartbreaking behaviours to see. Her brain started altering the messages it sent. Her pain threshold was lowered, she would scream in agony over every little thing. She would become so obsessed with small things- biting her painted nails until they bled. Her body forgot how to sit up so she had to remain laying down in bed. The downward spiral had well and truly begun. 

As the end came closer- she started to lose her ability to swallow. She has to be fed purified food until eventually she could not swallow at all- purely due to the fact her brain was unable to instruct her body how to do so. 

This is just one of the thousands of emotionally challenging stories which is affecting so many individuals day in day out. The statistics of affected individuals will only get worse until the cure is found. Meanwhile, we all have to hold tight in hope that this day will come, whilst supporting those fighting the battle. 


So what is the challenge? 

Lucy and Amy will be trekking for six consecutive days along the Great Wall of China through various conditions of woodland and farmland. Walking 70km over these six days over rough, rocky and muddy terrain. Day 4 we will encounter 'Heaven's Ladder', a steep climb of over 200 steps up the cliff face- this will be a challenge within itself!

How will your sponsorship help? 

£100- Could fund one of our National Dementia Helpline Advisers for a 7-hour shift; they offer personalised advice to people affected by dementia
£340- Could fund a Research Fellow for one day, investigating the cause, care, cure and prevention of all types of dementia.
£687- Could pay for an experienced Dementia Support Worker to provide invaluable support for a week, helping people affected by dementia to access relevant services in their area and to make informed decisions about their needs.
£1239- Could pay for a person with dementia to attend weekly peer support sessions for an entire year, helping them to feel less isolated by meeting regularly with others in a similar situation.
£3300- Could pay for portable brain scanning equipment to develop a new way to detect changes in the brain caused by Alzheimer’s disease, in the hope of nding an affordable, non-invasive cognitive test to diagnose the condition.
£5582- Could pay for 15 people to attend a weekly Singing for the Brain® session for an entire year, giving them opportunity to socialise and participate in an engaging musical activity.

Thank you for reading our page. We hope you can join us in raising funds for this great cause. 'Unite with us against dementia.'