Fundraising volunteer conquers Ben Nevis for Alzheimer's Society

Jackie Bennett, from Surrey, began volunteering for Alzheimer's Society about a year ago after witnessing the distressing effect the diagnosis can have when her close friend's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Jackie said:

'I felt I wanted to help with a cause that has until fairly recently taken such a back seat to cancer charities.'

Having taken part in many events for many different charities over the years, Jackie decided she would like to undertake a slightly tougher challenge. As a result, and with slight, yet understandable, trepidation, Jackie and her friend took the leap and decided to sign up for the Ben Nevis trek.

The pair began their training with some serious hill climbing up and down Box Hill, and before they knew it September and the date of the event had arrived. In a group of just less than 60 climbers, they travelled up to Scotland and set off on their climb at about 8:30am. Jackie tells us of her experience:

'Much to our surprise it was already really busy on the path and we began a relentless steady climb with very little respite. The weather deteriorated as we got higher and just after half way we entered cloud and it started to get very cold, wet and windy. We made the summit in about three and a half hours, but sadly there were no views, and apparently this isn't uncommon, it's only clear on about 40 days a year! After a quick photo and lunch stop huddled behind a ruined building we headed down as fast as we could and this proved even harder than the way up, with the wet rocky path exceedingly slippery underfoot. When we finally reached the bottom some five or six hours after setting off we were delighted to find we were right towards the front of the group and enjoyed, what we felt was a well earned beer in the pub at the bottom whilst waiting for others to return!'

We would like to thank Jackie and her friend for the fantastic amount of £7, 500 that they raised through this demanding event.  Jackie said of her fundraising activities:

'We were very lucky to receive such generous support from friends and family and delighted to raise about £7,500, plus gift aid of about £2,500, for such a worthwhile cause and hopefully help make a difference for some of the families affected by dementia.'