Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi All

As a nurse I sometimes have to visit people living with Alzheimer's to give nursing care and so I do experience just how challenging this can be not only for them but for myself and everyone else involved in their life and their care, family friends, carers, and the public. It is so important that as individuals they get to continue to live as independently as possible for as long as possible. This year I have decided to support Alzheimer's Scotland as my chosen charity and hopefully raise as much money as possible by facing once again my biggest fear 'of heights'. I have put my best foot forward and decided to challenge myself to a tandem parachute jump. Please support me by donating through my justgiving account. Any support you can give will be graciously received. Thank you.

Alzheimer Scotland provides a wide range of specialist services for people with dementia and their carers.  They offer personalised support services, community activities, information and advice, at every stage of the dementia journey. For more information you can visit their site at www.alzscot.org.

About dementia

Dementia is a condition that affects the brain, often making it harder to remember things or think clearly. Many different illnesses can cause dementia. The most common is Alzheimer's disease. There are many kinds of dementia including vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies and alcohol-related brain damage. All of them damage the brain so that it doesn’t function like it would normally.

Dementia is commonest in older people but can also affect people in their 40s or 50s. Occasionally, people who are even younger can develop dementia, although this is very rare. In Scotland, between 58,000 and 65,000 people have dementia.

We do not know exactly what causes dementia. Researchers all over the world are working to find causes and develop treatments.

Alzheimer’s disease gradually destroys brain cells and their connections. This affects how the person copes with everyday tasks.