I watched as vascular dementia took my mum away from us over several years. It's an horrendous process, watching someone disappear piece by piece until there's barely anything of them left, all the things that made her who she was slowly drifting away, a little less of her there each time I saw her. Mum was born and raised in Cumbria, so walking round Ullswater is a way to remember and honour her amidst a landscape and a place she loved.

So I'm doing this walk in memory of her, but also my sister-in-law's mum Brenda who died from Lewy body dementia last year. I've seen what a horrible condition dementia is, and how much it affects the people around someone with it, how it drains and tests them. 

I'm doing this walk to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society to help support their work to support the families and loved ones of those with dementia, as well as researching ways to improve the lives of those with the condition. Every donation, no matter how small, can help bring a bit of support, help, and advice into the life of someone with dementia.