Sharing the Journey

The walk has been completed and I reckon it was the equivalent of 8 marathons with 4 blisters. It has been a superb 18 days of walking and talking, sharing memories and experiences and thoughts. Strangers have shared their own family and friends' lives and their feelings around Alzheimers. To everyone who has donated, to everyone who has walked (and their pictures you can see below - the river is there !), to everyone who has looked after me and fed me, to everyone who has passed on their kind wishes I can only say a huge thanks. With all of you this has been an amazing walk.

However while my journey is over, the journey for Morag and Bill continues every minute, every hour and every day. As with everyone who knows someone with Alzheimers it is so difficult and therefore, as an anonymous donor asked when they said "Walk a few steps for my Mum", so I ask that we continue to keep Morag and Bill and whoever you know in our thoughts and continue walking a few steps for them all. 

Tom  

Restoring  Processes for Our Shared Memories

A 184 mile walk along the Thames Pathway to raise money for Alzheimers Research UK

Alzheimers is caused by protein bodies surrounding brain cells and closing them down which leads to a decreasing inability to carry out normal day to day tasks.

My brother in law, Bill Finnie, was diagnosed with Alzheimers in December 2009 and these past years have seen the illness progress. Bill in many ways seems to have accepted his situation with great strength and patience, very rarely complaining or getting angry. Perhaps the greatest insight he has revealed is when he recently said that he just felt his brain was empty and which in so few words sums up Alzheimers and the effect it has on individuals.

My sister Morag has looked after Bill and taken over having to organise both their lives and she too has faced up to that with strength and patience that mirrors what is happening in Bill’s life.

Bill and Morag moved to Chelmsford in 1974 when Bill started working with BP. He had been a naval architect at Yarrows on the Clyde. He then moved into marine consultancy specialising in accidents occurring at sea and with two colleagues, Tony Bowman and Richard Sneddon, they set up their own company, TMC, undertaking similar work and expanded over the years till it now employs 30 people. The company is based in Aldgate area. Bill became highly respected in his field and was a named Lloyds ship surveyor.

It is appropriate therefore that we have chosen the Thames Pathway from the source of the river at Kemble in the Cotswolds to the heart of the great city of London and the Thames Barrier where it flows out into the North Sea. This is equivalent to 7 marathons !!

Walking with me on various stages of the walk will be Morag and Bill, Katrina, Rob, Ben, and Tom, Neil, Liz, Freya and Sadie, Lee and Alistair and many other friends. We hope to raise as much money as we can for Alzheimers Research UK.  

With huge thanks to everyone.

Tom