Story
Around 225,000 people develop dementia every year and sadly, at just 58, my mum is one of them.
My mum, Anne-Marie, suffers from fronto-temporal dementia, a less common form of dementia that causes the nerves in the front lobes in the brain to die. This is the part of the brain that controls behaviour, problem-solving, planning, the control of emotions and speech. As you can imagine, this has had a devastating effect on my mum's quality of life and her relationships with everyone around her.
Mum now requires 24 hour care, and my dad is doing an amazing job of supporting her and looking after her - something which can be incredibly difficult and challenging. There is currently no cure for FTD and the progression of the disease cannot be slowed. My mum has always been a vibrant, funny, warm and sociable person and it's been heartbreaking to see the effect the illness has had on her personality and her social interactions - not to mention her health in the long term.
This September and October Memory Walks will be taking place across England, Wales and Northern Ireland to raise money for a world without dementia. This cause is hugely important to my family, and to many families all over the country, and I would appreciate any donation, big or small. Please help me raise money to walk towards a world without dementia.