In December 2023, my best friend, my rock, my strong, intelligent mother, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

This diagnosis has been devastating to me and my family. This disease is heartbreaking and cruel, stripping people of their dignity. Nobody deserves this. I know I am not alone—many friends and families are going through the same ordeal, often without any help. We need better support for those with the illness, places for care, support for carers and loved ones, and financial assistance for those unable to afford care homes. Carers often face mental health challenges with the emotional pain of seeing their loved one’s change.

I am the Practice Manager for law firm, Murray Hughman. The team have been hugely supportive and in November this year have agreed to join me on a charity fundraising trek to Iceland with Discover Adventure to raise vital funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. I will also be arranging countless fundraisers throughout the year to boost the amount we raise!

I won’t lie – taking on the additional responsibility of fundraising has been a challenge in itself. The more I struggle with my responsibilities as a mother, partner, daughter, and manager, the more I realise the importance of raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Life is stressful. Being a working mother is stressful. Adding a parent's Alzheimer's diagnosis can make it feel unbearable. Something as simple as forgetting your son's water bottle for nursery can reduce you to tears. You become a carer for the person who brought you into this world, managing their medication and finances while trying to keep on top of your own life admin.

Sometimes being busy is a blessing. It distracts from the cruel reality that your loved one is slowly slipping away. It's terrifying for both the person with dementia and their loved ones. It's scary, sad, and heartbreaking every day. It's not their fault—they may become difficult, get angry when you try to help, cancel important appointments, change passwords, fall victim to scams, or shop excessively online. The frustration and guilt can be overwhelming.

The guilt of getting angry, not doing enough, and losing precious time weighs heavily. Spending time on “Madmin” (Mum and Dad Admin) takes away from moments with them as Granny and Grandad. Balancing work, life, and their care is a constant struggle, and the regret of not spending enough time with them is inevitable. The grief begins even in the early stages as relationships change, conversations fade, and shared jokes and good times become rare.

Alzheimer's Research UK is dedicated to finding a cure for this devastating disease. That's why I chose them as our charity. When life feels overwhelming, we don't just stop—we work.

Please help and donate if you can – for more information see website for links to our just giving page

https://lnkd.in/dmQdXQ4g

to follow our training and fundraising journey, please check out the news page on our website https://murrayhughman.co.uk/news/

and follow our company page on linked in https://www.linkedin.com/company/18324005/admin/dashboard/