Next Sunday I’m running the Hackney Half for the Alzheimer Society in memory of my grandmothers. They both passed away from Alzheimer’s-related complications over the past two years.

Brenda Osborne my mum passed away in April recently after rapid onset of impaired Alzheimer's and urine infections. Having been the life and soul of parties and her grand children's upbringing she will be sadly missed at the age of 81 she was still physically fit but her brain deteriorated so fast.

I’m taking part in Memory Walk in London for my dad, who is a profoundly deaf British Sign Language (BSL) user living with dementia.

In 2017, after changes in his memory and behaviour became impossible to ignore, my dad was diagnosed at the specialist cognitive clinic for deaf people at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Receiving a diagnosis was overwhelming, but having access to a service that understood both dementia and the unique communication needs of Deaf people made an enormous difference.

Dementia has changed my dad’s life in ways we never imagined. Communication, identity and connection are so deeply tied to language, and for Deaf people, that language is BSL. Watching dementia affect not only his memory, but also his ability to communicate and connect, has been heartbreaking for our family.

Today, my dad lives in one of only two specialist care homes for Deaf people in the UK, where he is surrounded by people who understand his language and culture. That specialist support is invaluable, but it also highlights how limited these services are.

I’m walking Memory Walk for my dad—for the man he is, and the man dementia is slowly taking from us. I’m walking to raise awareness of the impact dementia has on Deaf communities, and to help ensure more families can access the understanding, support and specialist care they desperately need.

My dad, Ray, passed away on Wednesday 6th May 2026 after a long journey with frontotemporal dementia caused by a familial MAPT gene mutation. He was the kindest, gentlest man I have ever known - a proud Welshman with a hippy soul, a teacher, artist, joker and devoted family man.

My sister and I were his whole world. Even when dementia had taken most of his language, he still told us, over and over, how much he loved us and how proud he was. He taught us kindness not through words, but through who he was: cooking dinners without complaint, taking us to Pride, playing guitar while we danced around him, always showing up early to collect me from work.

Dad loved Rothko and Pollock, Bob Dylan and Dire Straits, Manchester City and long walks through the Welsh countryside. He had the softest blue eyes, the best hugs, and the silliest dad jokes. Becoming a Taid brought him enormous joy.

Dementia is a slow goodbye. My dad had already watched his own father and brother walk this same road. Now, our family is going through genetic counselling, facing difficult questions about our future and our children’s future.

One in three people will develop dementia. Families like mine urgently need more research, more awareness, and hope that one day no one will have to endure this heartbreak again.

Caru ti, Dad.

I am taking part in this walk for my amazing grandad Keith who we sadly lost last September. Growing up he was a huge inspiration and even bigger part of my life. He made everyone laughed wherever he went and never stopped smiling. Throughout his battle with dementia he remained strong, which was a huge inspiration to me to keep going and pushing myself. Growing up I helped look after him and take him places with my mum and dad, and these memories I will cherish forever the rest of my life. He never stopped singing his favourite songs, which caused me to also know all the words and sing along with him.

The day we lost my grandad was the hardest day of my life, it felt like the light had been sucked out of me and all the joy in the world had disappeared. And here I am 8 months later pushing to find any charity run/walk that will help battle Alzheimer’s in honour of him.

I hope by doing this walk I do him proud and that he is smiling down at me knowing that he is still and always in my heart.

I am walking for Alzheimer’s Society in honour of my late mother, who lived with dementia for over a decade. Watching the woman I loved gradually change over the years was one of the most heartbreaking experiences of my life. Dementia slowly took away her memories, independence, and parts of the personality that made her who she was. Seeing her confusion, frustration, and moments when she no longer recognised familiar faces was devastating for our family.

As a nurse, I have cared for many people living with dementia, but experiencing it personally gave me a deeper understanding of the emotional pain and challenges families face every single day. This walk is my way of remembering my mother, honouring her strength, and standing with everyone affected by dementia.

I am taking every step with love, remembrance, and hope — hope for better support, greater awareness, more research, and one day, a world without dementia. No family should have to go through this journey alone.

We’re running this race in memory of Ben’s nan, Linda — an incredibly strong woman who gave so much to the people around her throughout her life. Before she was a nan, she served in the army, carrying the same resilience, courage and determination that everyone who knew her would later recognise in everyday life.

Linda was the kind of person who kept going no matter what life threw at her. Strong-willed, caring and fiercely loyal to her family, she made a lasting impact on everyone lucky enough to know her. That’s why watching Alzheimer’s slowly take parts of her away was so difficult. This illness doesn’t just affect one person — it changes entire families, memories and moments that you never realise are important until they start slipping away.

For Ben, this is deeply personal. Linda wasn’t just his nan, she was a huge part of his life. The lessons she taught him, the memories they shared and the strength she showed throughout her life are the reason every mile now means something bigger than ourselves.

What started as one race has become a complete lifestyle change for us. Early mornings, long runs, sore legs and moments where quitting would’ve been easier — all driven by one thing: making Linda proud and raising money to support families facing the same battle today.

We want people to remember Linda for the amazing woman she was — strong, funny, loving and proud of her family. A woman who served her country, loved her family deeply and fought with strength right until the end.

Every donation and message of support means more than we can explain. Thank you for helping us honour Linda’s memory and support the fight against Alzheimer’s.

This one’s for Linda. 💙

Over the past few years, I’ve sadly lost both of my parents to Alzheimer’s disease. My dad passed away in May 2023 at 76, and my mum followed in August 2025, also aged 76, after bravely facing both Alzheimer’s and terminal cancer. During this time, I also lost several aunties affected by dementia.

For a long period, I cared for both of my parents full time. It was something I did with love, but it meant my life was centred around their needs. Since their passing, I’ve been left not only with grief, but also a significant void where that purpose once was.

Watching someone you love gradually fade through dementia is heartbreaking. It affects not just the person living with it, but the whole family. Throughout our journey, the Alzheimer’s Society supported us with guidance, reassurance, and understanding when we needed it most.

This challenge is about more than fitness — it’s my way of turning loss into something positive. Running has helped me rebuild, process everything, and move forward while carrying their memory with me.

I’m committed to running the following events, in memory of my parents to raise funds so the Alzheimer’s Society can continue supporting families like mine.

- Newport Marathon Festival 10K (April, completed)
- Bryn Meadows Caerphilly 10K (May)
- Swansea Half Marathon (June)
- Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K (July)
- Cardiff 10K (September)
- Cardiff Half Marathon (October)

I am doing the walk in memory of my Mum , who passed away last year in September , I am thinking of her every single day I miss her so much. I wanted do something for her , for the first couple of months I needed to do something so I came across this challenge. I have a goal to achieve and helping this charity .