Having watched first hand how Dementia can completely take control of someone's life, I would love nothing more than to raise some money to help those suffering with and caring for those with Dementia. 

My grandmother (Granby) was diagnosed with Dementia in 2014 and although it started out mild, it has affected her to the point where she now requires full time care. We are fortunate enough that she is able to live on the family farm where she lived for the best part of 50 years, receiving care from both my parents. 

Having been at home through lockdown, I witnessed first hand not only how Dementia affects Granby's day to day life, but the sheer amount of time, effort, love, and patience that my parents exhibit day in day out in order to ensure Granby has continuous enjoyment and comfort in her life. 

Fortunately, we are still able to enjoy Granby's contagious sense of humour and continuous gratitude, but this is not to understate the impact that her Dementia has on those around her. It is the hardest thing in the world to watch someone you love slowly deteriorate with the feeling that there is fundamentally nothing you can do to help. 

But as I have said, we are very lucky that Granby is still able to live with us and we can manage to look after her as a family, however others aren't quite so lucky. To help with that, here's what Dementia UK are doing to help:

Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity. Their nurses, called Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing care to families affected by all forms of dementia, including Alzheimers disease. They help people with dementia stay independent for longer, and support the people caring for them so they have the strength to cope with the bad days, and the energy to enjoy the good days. They have the time to listen and the knowledge to solve problems, helping families take back control when they are struggling.

I will be in constant awe of what my parents have done to support Granby as she continues to battle with Dementia, putting their lives to one side at times to ensure she has the best care possible. If by running the marathon I can raise a few pounds to provide support those who are in a similar situation, then the pain of 26.2 miles will be well worth it.