Living with dementia magazine December 2012/January 2013

The Society's cycle challenge in South East Asia is one of many ways in which people can raise funds through events. Fiona Madden talks to a mother and son who bicycled from Vietnam to Cambodia.

A determined mother and son have been among those taking on the Society's arduous Vietnam to Cambodia Cycle Challenge in order to raise funds.

Anne and Jake Lloyd from Lancashire joined a team who flew to Vietnam on 31 October and cycled approximately 480km with the whole trip lasting just over a week.

As both 47-year old Anne's mother and mother-in-law passed away this year with dementia it was a cause that was close to both of their hearts.  

High temperatures

Anne had cared for her late mother for two and a half years and collected donations at her funeral, split between Alzheimer's Society and a hospice, but she wanted to do something more active to contribute.

The Lloyds followed a set training plan but the journey was harder than Anne had anticipated as she had not factored in the sky high temperatures.

Anne says,

'Exerting yourself to the degree we were in that heat, I don't think I ever became accustomed to the heat for the whole week. It required a lot of endurance and stamina to complete.'

Team bonds

Both Anne and 17-year old Jake formed a close bond with their team mates and found they leaned on each other through the more difficult moments, both emotionally and physically.

Anne says,

'Everybody had a personal story within the team and we were mindful of that. On the second or third day we were cycling, Kathryn Betts, who works for the Society, stopped us all to take a moment to remember the person and not the disease. Everybody was touched by that.'

Strenuous as it was, both mother and son describe it as an invaluable adventure and were extremely pleased to have taken part.

Anne says,

'I cried the whole way over the finish line. We all held hands and crossed through the banner at the end and got our medals. It was just fantastic. Everybody was so pleased. Everybody had bad days and we rallied together at those points. Both Jake and I have made some fabulous friends.'

Just the beginning

Although Anne will continue to raise funds in other ways she thinks this may have been a once in a lifetime challenge for her. However for Jake this is just the beginning.

He says,

'I would definitely do something like this again. I really enjoyed it. It was hard work but so amazing to see the country in that way.'

At the time of going to press the Lloyds were on course to beat their fundraising target of £3,200 each.

Find out how you can to get involved with raising funds in the coming year.

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