I set myself a huge challenge for the 31 days of May – to
ride 100 miles on my exercise bike. I've never done this before - typically I ride between 20-30 miles per month, so achieving 100 miles meant more than trebling what I’m used to doing. I decided to do something to help others at a time when the nation is gripped by the corona virus and the vulnerable need our support more than ever. Amongst those are sufferers from dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

After achieving my target of 100 miles by 31st May, I decided to carry on and do another 100 miles during June!  And I did it!  I'm so proud of my total of 213 miles cycled during May and June. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated and helped to raise  £1500 so far - thank you all. If you haven't donated yet, you can still do so until 31st July.  Your donation will be massively appreciated by me and by the Alzheimer's Society. 

I’m supporting the Alzheimer’s Society’s Cycle for Dementia
campaign because the Society is doing fantastic work to help fund the cost of care for dementia sufferers and to help fund research for a disease that affects 850,000 in the UK and for which there is currently no cure. It is estimated that 1.6 million people in the UK will suffer from this cruel disease by 2040. We heard on the news that care homes were hardest hit with Covid-19, and 70% of dementia sufferers are in care homes. The impact of the virus weighs heavily on society and also on the need to support people at risk, such as dementia sufferers. 

It's affected my family and friends ... 

I will never forget what happened to my father, a previously
fit and healthy man in his 70s, who was used to doing long walks as an active member of the Ramblers Association. His dementia symptoms first showed when he began to lose spatial awareness and soon could no longer lead people on countryside walks. His condition deteriorated to the point where the difficult decision had to be taken to move him into a care home and I had to sell his house to fund his care. Initially he took part in leisure activities in the care home and continued to enjoy hearing classical music, but these interests faded until he was scarcely recognisable as my father, and his last years could hardly be termed as living. He died after 7 years in care and it was a merciful release when it came. Although we tend to think of dementia as a disease affecting the elderly, it also affects younger people, and over 42,000 people under 65 have dementia. A friend of mine whom I had known since we were at university together developed early onset dementia in her 60s and died in the prime of her life from this unforgiving disease. 

Perhaps, as you read this, you will be reminded of people you know who either have the disease or who have been taken from us because of it. It can affect anybody of any age, so please support Cycle for Dementia and the excellent work The Alzheimer’s Society is doing  - they need our support to continue doing it. Please support my Cycle for Dementia challenge and help me raise much-needed funds for The Alzheimer’s Society. Thank you.