Why am I doing this?
Here I am with my wonderful Mum. She is why I am doing this. At age 63, just a few months after we lost my Gran, her Mum, to Alzheimer's she was diagnosed with the same condition.
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She watched her mother fade away for ten years and now we all get to press the repeat button. A cure will be found, but it won't be soon enough for my Mum.
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Which is why we are so grateful for the support she and my Dad receive from amazing groups close to their home in Hythe, in South East Kent.
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This photo was taken in May 2017 at the Quarterhouse Theatre in Folkestone, where my Mum was performing at Normal? A Festival of the Brain, a series of exhibitions, performances and talks curated by Living Words. Living Words work with people with dementia, giving them a voice and a way to express themselves. Susanna and the team have supported my Mum to take part in forums, Q&A sessions and she has even appeared in a film. More recently they have created her own book of "Living Words", her life's story collected from multiple sittings with my Mum and encouraging her to reminisce.
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She was so happy and proud that day. So was I.
Mum and Dad have also been hugely supported by the Hythe Dementia Awareness Forum. They help people in the local community learn about dementia and they put people with dementia in touch with groups that can support them. They have been instrumental in helping my Mum and Dad access support not just for her, but for my Dad in his caring role. If you can please click on the fundraising tab at the top of the page and give generously to these two wonderful groups.
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And why run between my house and my parent's house? Well, The Alzheimer's Society runs Memory Walks aimed at creating physical memories while also fundraising. I want to create a physical connection between where we live more meaningful than the 90 minutes on the motorway. I also hope it will be a day for us all to remember. My Dad and brothers are going to be out supporting and running with me and my Mum and wife and kids will be operating the tractor beam, pulling me into Hythe - I can't wait to reach them!