My beautiful Nani Ji (Maternal Grandmother) has had a significant hand in raising me and is a fundamental pillar to my being. She immigrated with my Nana Ji (Maternal Grandfather) in the early 60s to the UK from Panjab facing many obstacles along the way. As their first (and very adored) grandchild, all I have ever known is a strong, kind and loving woman led by her faith in Sikhi.

In recent years, small changes in her memory and confidence started to emerge. As time went on, every waking moment began to involve second guessing simple decisions; “Shall I go to sleep?” or “Which way is the kitchen?” and retelling stories as if it’s the first time she is sharing them, including growing up in the pind (village) and all the joy the family dog Sarpanch (Panchi) gave. She has led a healthy life and so we assumed that this was part of the normal aging process, except it wasn’t, and a diagnosis of vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s was confirmed.

At first, making sense how to care for my Nani Ji wasn’t straightforward as logic no longer prevailed and embracing her ever evolving understanding of the world was fundamental for us. Fortunately, I was introduced to Dr Karan Jutlla’s work which has been a huge help to support my learning with a particular focus on cultural nuances. She is a researcher and educator dedicated to promoting culturally inclusive health and social care, as her research shows significant disparities in care for ethnic minorities. Much of her work has been featured in several articles, journals and reports. More recently, she collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Society to create resources in Panjabi as a pilot to increase knowledge and awareness. 

The ONS has reported that Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease is now the leading cause of death in England, with 1 in 3 of us living with the disease once over 65. Research can further identify ways to reduce the risk, improve care for loved ones as they evolve with dignity and respect, deepen knowledge and work towards finding a cure.

My intention is to raise £13,000 (tera/13 is a special number for me and my faith) for Alzheimer’s Society by being part of the 1st exclusively south Asian women group setting out to climb the world’s highest free-standing mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro across 7 days with an altitude of 5895m and temperatures of up to -20 degrees (I live for being warm…all year round!).

We will be joined by an award-winning film crew to document the journey. The feature film will follow the group from training in the UK through to the climb in Tanzania, all the while delving into the themes of representation, identity, breaking boundaries, and everyday acts of courage, sharing intimate interviews with the team. #climbkiliwithawmb

Whilst I have travelled and hiked in some of the most beautiful ecological places including New Zealand, Australia and Peru, this is going to be like nothing I’ve ever done before and holds so much meaning to me. I cannot wait to be in the elements again and see what this journey brings!

Your support is truly appreciated, thank you 

Kiran x