On the weekend of July 3rd/4th I will be taking part in The Peak District Challenge, walking 100km (60 miles) over 2 days, raising money for The Alzheimer's Society. This is a charity close to my heart - not only have family members suffered from the disease, but it is also the leading cause of death in the UK (behind the current Covid-19 monthly statistics) and women are much more likely to suffer from it than men. There is currently no cure, however much more research to be done and treatments to be investigated.

I have put this page in memory of my great grandma, Olive Cook/Nan Cook as after an already challenging life she suffered from vascular dementia for years before passing away in February 2018. 

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.

Dementia describes different brain disorders that trigger a loss of brain function. These conditions are all usually progressive and eventually severe.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.

There are currently around 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. This is projected to rise to 1.6 million by 2040.

209,600 will develop dementia this year, that’s one every three minutes.

1 in 6 people over the age of 80 have dementia.

70 per cent of people in care homes have dementia or severe memory problems.

There are over 42,000 people under 65 with dementia in the UK.

More than 25,000 people from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups in the UK are affected.