It's us and the Ka...

In July we will be taking to the roads of Europe and completing a rally to Rome, and back in 4,500 miles with various pit-stops, in 12 days.

The charity I wish to raise money for is Alzheimer's Scotland and it is one very close to my heart, after my grandad James McLagan passed away from the illness on 5th September 2010.

Dementia is an illness which affects the brain, causing a progressive loss of mental powers. Over 84,000 Scots have dementia and this number is increasing as people live longer.

With the money donated, Alzheimer's Scotland provide home support services providing those with dementia, care and stimulation. In addition, there are networks of dementia advisors set up to ensure there are local points of contact for them and their families at all stages of their journey.

My Grandad was an active, out-going and bubbly man who loved keeping fit with his daily walks, socialising with  friends and loved watching sports on the television especially football and cricket, he himself was a keen bowler and was the British champion in  the seventies.  My grandad James McLagan known as 'Jim' to all his friends was well known for his witty banter through his job as a postman, and he would never pass you by without a smile or a "hello". He was 62 years old when he was first diagnosed with the disease and died at the age of 74 years, the illness  is often referred to as "the long goodbye."

My Grandad had a great love for Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, and would compare many of their songs to situations in life. "I did it my way" being one of his favourites.

To see my Grandad change dramatically from a cheery, fun-loving man who was always full of life, to someone who became so weak, and almost unrecognizable was heart-breaking to witness. At the end of his life, he was not the Grandad I had always known and loved, the man who was always encouraging my cousins and I to do our best and make the most of life. 

Today, I am using the  words of encouragement my Grandad always gave me  to take part in this road trip of a lifetime and try and raise as much money and awareness as I can. I truly hope you can all contribute towards this worthy charity.

"I've lived a life that's full, I've travelled each and every highway, and more, much more than this, I did it my way."

Thank you for all your support,

Claire and Ryan

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.