Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

update - 16/05/12

only 4 more days till the big day - and I dont mean my birthday (although it is my birthday too lol)
If you havent already and would like to, please take time to read my page and sponsor me however much or little you want, every penny counts and I am very grateful to everyone who has already sponsored me.
Alzheimers can and does affect every walk of life, until my dad was diagnosed 18 months ago, I didnt really know too much about how severe the effects of this awful disease have on the individual suffering with it and their entire family and friends. Because its does, the impact of Alzheimers is enormous, simple everyday tasks become difficult if not impossible to complete and it rips families apart from the very core. 
Seeing the change in my amazing dad over the last few years has been so heartbreaking, more so I guess for my mum who deals with this 24/7. For my mum to have time to herself is a major task in itself as she has to make sure dad's ok, meals are prepared in advance etc...
The other nite, mum had been to church for a couple of hrs and came home to find dad had gone to bed earlier than normal, when she asked him why - his response - I couldnt change the channel on the television so came to bed...its heartbreaking, devastation beyond imagination.
Sorry if I have waffled on, just wanted to share little snippets of what this awful disease does to families.
So once again, to all who want to, please sponsor whatever you can afford and to those who have, from the very bottom of my heart, not only do I thank you all, but the millions of other people affected thank you!

Training has stopped due to my bad hip, but this wont stop me from doing the run - physio appointment on fri 18 may and hopefully this will help me achieve a better time.

Update - 09/03/12 - Training has been going really well so far, managed to do 3.61 mile - just over half of what I'll be doing on 20th May...Started going to Parkrun at Heaton Park on a saturday morning and doing 5km there and managed that so far in 31.57 mins and thats got quite a few hills in it - all being well the actual run in Manchester will be relatively easy as not many hills - or so I've been told.

Thanks so far to all of you who have sponsored me - amazing amount so far - £258 but I really want to raise so much more...

OMG I have signed up for the Great Manchester Bupa 10km Run - and of all days - its on my 43rd birthday - Sunday 20th May 2012!!!! - Now thats dedication as many of you know the Saturday night beforehand is usually spent in the pub getting a little intoxicated - none of that this year or I wont even make 1km!!! In fact I wouldnt even make the start line lol !!!  So family, friends, aquaintances, if I can give up a boozy birthday night out, can you help support me and a very special charity that I am aiming to raise as much money for - Alzheimers!

Until recently, like maybe many others, I never gave this charity much thought, instead I raised money for cancer research, childrens charities or the local hospice....its only when something major affects you directly that you realise the importance of finding a cure and raising awareness...this is why now I am aiming to raise as much money as possible for Alzheimers - my wonderful Dad, my mums wonderful husband of 47.5yrs, a wonderful grandad and friend to many, was diagnosed with this cruel disease at the young age of 65.

Seeing how this horrible disease is affecting normal everyday life for my dad, for my mum and for my brothers and sisters and those who know my dad, makes me want to raise awareness and help to find a cure for it...My dad is one of the kindest, most loving people I know who has worked hard all his life to support his family and at a time when he should have been enjoying his retirement, taking holidays abroad, hes now unable to do many basic things..he was a trucker for over 40 years driving up and down the country in his 40ft truck and now he cant even drive his car. 

Dad was the one I turned to for help with everything in my house....fixing the lights, fixing the washer, doing some decorating....now he cant do any of those things as his mind his all confused...simple every day tasks can take ages to do, if at all, putting coats on his dogs when he takes them out for a walk - he cant remember how to do it even though mum has shown him so many times....faces of people he knows but cant put a name to.

So, I'll stop waffling now, and ask that as many of you as possible can donate as little or as much as you want, every single penny counts......help support this charity and then on the day, come along an cheer me on - an see me crawl over the finish line - making sure you have a glass of birthday beer waiting for me !

I will thank you all in advance from the bottom of my heart !

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