A wave of blue washed over Liverpool as more than a thousand Alzheimer’s Society fundraisers walked to help end the devastation caused by dementia.
Joining the event in Aintree, Liverpool at the weekend was Kacey Broster from Ellesmere Port. Kacey’s Nan died of Alzheimer’s disease a year ago and she and her Mum took part in the Memory Walk to mark the first anniversary of her passing.
Kacey said: “It was a great day with a great atmosphere! Me and my mum really enjoyed ourselves. It stayed dry for us while we were doing the walk and overall it was a great day. It was a very emotional day but it was all worth it.”
Participants completed either a short 2km walk or a longer 6km route which took them around the iconic Aintree racecourse.
Kacey and her mum wanted to take part in the walk after they witnessed the rapid and often frightening progress of her Nan’s illness;
“We first saw the signs a few years ago. She had problems with her short term memory, then she started to get me muddled up with my sister. I bought her a memory game and we realised she just couldn’t remember enough to play it.”
Eventually Kacey’s Nan deteriorated to the extent that she could neither eat or drink, despite her husband caring for her lovingly until the very end, doing what Kacey describes as ‘an amazing job.’
“Her illness was quite scary at times, particularly for my younger sister who was only in her teens. I was doing Health and Social Care at the time so I knew a bit more about it but it is still hard to see your loved one disappearing. The hardest thing of all is that she died just before I had my little boy, who is only 9 months old.”
There are around one million people living with dementia in the UK including 5,500 in Liverpool, and Alzheimer’s Society says thousands of people are facing the realities alone, without access to vital support.
Alzheimer’s Society provides help and advice for anyone affected by dementia through its support line, online and print information, expert dementia advisers and online community.
More than £108,000 has been raised so far by those walking in Liverpool, helping to fund the charity’s vital dementia support and groundbreaking research.
Steve Green, Alzheimer’s Society’s Regional Manager, said: “Memory Walk is such a special event in our calendar, bringing people together to walk in memory or in celebration of loved ones.
“We are in awe of our incredible fundraisers and thank all those who took part in Liverpool, as with every step and pound raised will make a huge difference to the lives of people living with dementia.
“Alzheimer’s Society is here for everyone affected by dementia through our support services which people tell us are a lifeline. From a listening ear on the phone to a visit in person and opportunities to connect with others, we’ll be there for you again and again and again, no matter what.”
There’s still time to organise your own Memory Walk throughout September or to find out more about taking part in an Alzheimer’s Society walk next year, visit memorywalk.org.uk.
