Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

I am taking part in the Great North Run 2014 to support Dementia UK. I have chosen this charity as I believe that Dementia is a great problem that can truly affect a family and it is often overlooked by many people. My Nana has had dementia for over 5 years now. She struggles to remember who we are most of the time when we visit and often gets very confused. She sometimes forgets who my Mum is (her own daughter!) and other times cant remember her grandchildren. My two youngest sisters were very young when she was diagnosed and she often forgets that my Mum has 4 children. She thinks that she only had 2 or 3. It is difficult for us all as we cannot make her remember we just have to treat her as we normally would and hope she realises who we are once we have been with her  for a while. my Nana is now being made to live in a care home where she has been for over a year. There are no specialist nurses who understand the disease at this home, but there is no choice as my Grandad is unable to look after her on his own at home now. Dementia UK help people like my Grandad to learn what they can do to help and help both sufferers and their families through it. Dementia UK also help to fund day centres and clinics for Dementia sufferers and their families to attend to get extra support from trained nurses. 

670,000 people in the UK are living with dementia and many of them will not have received a diagnosis. Most dementia sufferers are older and I feel that this could be why a lot of people are unaware of the disease and the effect it has on so many people's lives. But 15,000 of those living with dementia are under the age of 65. So it is possible for younger people to suffer from dementia. Dementia UK helps you to understand the signs early on and gives you the support you need if you know someone with dementia. 

Please consider what I have written when donating today and remember that although it is not a life-threatening disease. Dementia changes the lives of so many people and your money can help to provide help and support for sufferers and their families through specialised nurses and care homes as well as day centres where families can visit their loved ones who have been affected by this disease. 

 

Thank you.

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