My Story

It's a sad reality that few of us don't know anyone who isn't currently or hasn't been touched by dementia. Seeing someone fade away and those moments of "them" becoming less and less is type of grief too many of us know. I sadly lost my grandma, Pearl Burrell, last year to dementia. For the last 10 years we watched the mum, grandma, great grandma and auntie we've all known slowly disappear. Alzheimer's Society are doing some amazing work to slow this process, provide support and ultimately work towards a cure.

My other grandma, Mary Topping, is still with us but also living with dementia. She's in a care home now and incredibly well cared for but those moments of grandma being grandma are becoming less and less. 

The day I got the email last year to say I was in the London marathon was the day of grandma's funeral... quite the sign eh? I'm not a runner at all and never intended to but for this, I will absolutely learn how to, show up at every training session and smile/laugh/cry/grit my teeth through every single step of the 26.2 miles, even the 343 miles I have to do on the training plan. Anything you can spare towards this, I'll be hugely grateful and will go to an incredibly worth cause. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

This is for you grandma Pearl, grandma Mary and anyone else going through or has lived with Alzheimers x

A note from the charity:

One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime. It devastates lives and, at Alzheimer’s Society, we’re changing that. Together with your help, we can give vital support to those who need it today, hold decision-makers to account, and fund groundbreaking research to transform the future for everyone living with dementia.