People that know me probably know that I do a fair bit of walking but doing twenty-six miles in one day will be a challenge. It's a huge step up from the casual four miles I do on a Saturday. I'm overweight and unfit and it will take proper training for me to be able to do this. The motivation is to raise as much money as I can for the Alzheimer's Society.

When I was a child, I witnessed a grandmother I cherished become an echo of her former self due to Alzheimer's. I remember learning of the condition when my grandmother wandered into my bedroom on a family holiday and my parents explained it to me. I was horrified that such a thing even existed, let alone that it was happening to my Nan. I also witnessed my grandfather sacrificing his own life and well-being to care for her and whilst family and friends did their bets to help, there was very little help from outside agencies.

Nearly two decades after my grandmother's death, not much has changed. Where there is gradual progress in treating medical conditions, a cure for dementia seems no closer. The money I will raise will go towards funding medical research to one day make that happen and also to provide help to those affected by dementia and those that care for them.

From the Alzheimer's Society: "Alzheimer’s Society is transforming the landscape of dementia forever.Until the day we find a cure, we will create a society where those affected by dementia are supported and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice."