This summer, Mum and I will be walking a marathon through London to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society, the leading charity for dementia sufferers in UK.

Unfortunately our family has first hand experience of this disease as my grandfather and mums father in law, Michael lost his battle with Alzheimer's dementia eleven years ago.

When grandpa was diagnosed we had very little idea about Alzheimer's or how many people suffered from it. It is as cruel a disease as cancer but with no known cure, and is unconnected to the natural ageing process. It directly impacts some 750,000 people in UK alone, and the numbers are growing each year. The statistics are staggering; approximately a quarter of all beds in NHS are now occupied by dementia sufferers and the cost to the UK economy is a whopping £20 billion per annum.

So where does Alzheimer's Society come in. They campaign tirelessly on behalf of all dementia sufferers, their immediate families, and their carers and directly help some 30,000 people every week with practical services such as home and day support. They strive to influence government policies and raise awareness of the challenges faced by people living with dementia, and they fund research into the cause, cure, care and prevention of dementia.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. 

Lots of love and thank you for your support,

Emma & Jennifer x