Mum and daughter’s marathon challenge

She is on a trek to transformation with the Alzheimer's Society event, which she is tackling in tribute to her gran who lived for years with dementia.

Vicky (35), of Blayds Garth, Woodlesford, Leeds is being joined for the marathon by mum Barbara Barton (59), of Thorpe Willoughby, Selby.

The walk goes through 26 miles of spectacular coast and countryside to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne and anyone can sign up for it.

Vicky, whose training has already helped her shed two stones, said:

'I decided to get fit, lose weight and do something to help other people - I've never had anything that was as close to my own heart as this.

'My gran Dorothy Gill had been a dinner lady and was lovely, she would have given you her last pound. Dementia then spirited her back to being a little girl.

'Mum was really upset when gran didn't recognise her - she knew she knew us but she thought her daughter was her mum and that I was her cousin.

'Gran would forget people had visited and think no-one had been to see her - dementia is a horrible, horrible illness. She died last year in her 80s.

'It's always someone's sister, brother, aunt, uncle or grandparent and in the later stages you grieve every day because they are not the person they were.'

Vicky, who has a JustGiving page, has already raised more than £1,000 to boost her walk sponsorship through a cheese and wine evening helped by food donated by Sainsbury's at Colton, Leeds.

Memory Walk Marathon North starts from Beadnell Harbour and takes in spectacular scenery, including magnificent Bamburgh Castle and dramatic sandstone overhang which is reputed to be where the body of St Cuthbert was taken when Lindisfarne was attacked by the Vikings in 875AD

Alzheimer's Society Community Fundraiser, Julie Lee, said:

'It is fantastic that Vicky and her mum are taking part in the marathon. The walk is an excellent opportunity to help fund services supporting people with dementia and fight the condition.'

Memory Walk 2012 is being held in partnership with Bupa Care Homes. Together, Alzheimer's Society and Bupa aim to support more people living with dementia through the vital funds that are raised.

Sign up for a Memory Walk Marathon online or call 0870 417 0192. Or if you want to find your local Memory Walk head over to our Memory Walk website.