Dementia Support Line
We lost Mum to dementia four years ago on the 8th November so this (Swim for Dementia) is an ideal way to remember Mum and hopefully support suffering from this...
I am supporting my wife's grandmother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's some years ago. She has three children, ten grandchildren, and quite a few great...
My wife has Alzheimer’s. She and I both used to teach French. As a teenager, I loved the French Romantic poets, especially Lamartine, and his poem L’Isolement...
My king my world my grandpa not just a grandad but a...
My beautiful Grandma💛💛
She battled...
I am running 50km for my mum Monica . She has been...
As part of my double knee replacement rehab I am running in The Great South Run on 19th October. I will be running for Alzheimer’s Society.
Last year I was the...
I’m running for my wife’s grandad John. He was...
There are three generations of us (me, my mum and my...
I'm running the London Landmarks Half for my mum who...
Lin and I met in 1980 when I appointed her to a job...
I am walking in memory of my wonderful, beloved...
We lost Mum to dementia four years ago on the 8th November so this (Swim for Dementia) is an ideal way to remember Mum and hopefully support suffering from this horrible disease.
Neil
I am supporting my wife's grandmother who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's some years ago. She has three children, ten grandchildren, and quite a few great grandchildren, but soon won't remember much of them. Through charities like the Society, she and all our family get the support we need. I am proud to be part of that!
Mira
My wife has Alzheimer’s. She and I both used to teach French. As a teenager, I loved the French Romantic poets, especially Lamartine, and his poem L’Isolement (Isolation). It had 13 verses and all the usual Romantic clichés.
But one line in particular always struck me, even back then, as being very powerful – but untranslatable. Here’s an example of 2 of the verses (with my ‘translation’)
Souvent sur la montagne, à l’ombre du vieux chêne,
Au coucher du soleil, tristement je m’assieds ;
Je promène au hasard mes regards sur la plaine,
Dont le tableau changeant se déroule à mes pieds.
Que me font ces vallons, ces palais, ces chaumières,
Vains objets dont pour moi le charme est envolé ?
Fleuves, rochers, forêts, solitudes si chères,
Un seul être vous manque, et tout est dépeuplé.
Often, up on the hill in the shade of a tree
Full of sickening sadness the sunset I greet.
My gaze wanders all over the sights that I see
In a constantly shifting tableau at my feet.
What’s the point of these glens or other locations?
For me, their sweetest charms have just faded to mists,
Rivers, landscapes, forests, such adored isolations.
Just one person is missing and nothing exists.
Guess which line I still think is untranslatable,
But one line in particular always struck me, even back then, as being very powerful – but untranslatable. Here’s an example of 2 of the verses (with my ‘translation’)
Souvent sur la montagne, à l’ombre du vieux chêne,
Au coucher du soleil, tristement je m’assieds ;
Je promène au hasard mes regards sur la plaine,
Dont le tableau changeant se déroule à mes pieds.
Que me font ces vallons, ces palais, ces chaumières,
Vains objets dont pour moi le charme est envolé ?
Fleuves, rochers, forêts, solitudes si chères,
Un seul être vous manque, et tout est dépeuplé.
Often, up on the hill in the shade of a tree
Full of sickening sadness the sunset I greet.
My gaze wanders all over the sights that I see
In a constantly shifting tableau at my feet.
What’s the point of these glens or other locations?
For me, their sweetest charms have just faded to mists,
Rivers, landscapes, forests, such adored isolations.
Just one person is missing and nothing exists.
Guess which line I still think is untranslatable,
William Bill
My king my world my grandpa not just a grandad but a dad I never had past away in march age 94 I was so lucky to spent every day with him in his care home for 7mths and before having days out one to one listening to his stories and making me laugh he was as the best those were so so special times only if he smiled sung or just know my face his sunshine his favourite song I can’t express how much I miss him but I know he is with me looking after me still to this day. My nan who was married to grandpa for 72 years have now been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and I’m doing my best to help my uncle with her as I made a promise to grandpa to help with his Jean
They have been my world and looked after me from when I was born my love for them is every thing to me. I wish I had a magic wand to help all families with their loved ones
I’ve just had a holiday with my nan she is 90 and my mum who I believe also may have the start of this awful disease it’s heart breaking as you know. But I’m right here for them and will treasure all the memories we make together and I pray one day there will be a cure. My grandparents were champs at bowls and I now honour taking on their roll in playing bowls so their name live on this is so special to me and feel grandpa is on that green I hear him so much 🌞 remember I love you grandpa over and out 🙏
They have been my world and looked after me from when I was born my love for them is every thing to me. I wish I had a magic wand to help all families with their loved ones
I’ve just had a holiday with my nan she is 90 and my mum who I believe also may have the start of this awful disease it’s heart breaking as you know. But I’m right here for them and will treasure all the memories we make together and I pray one day there will be a cure. My grandparents were champs at bowls and I now honour taking on their roll in playing bowls so their name live on this is so special to me and feel grandpa is on that green I hear him so much 🌞 remember I love you grandpa over and out 🙏
Debra
My beautiful Grandma💛💛
She battled Alzheimer’s for many years but unfortunately gained her angel wings a few months ago she was the most amazing ambitious inspiring lady I’ve ever met. She has always sat very closely to my heart and has been the best possible grandmother anybody could ask for her wonderful stories over the year inspired me to become the person I’ve become today. She wasn’t just a grandmother. She was a true friend somebody who fought for me and somebody who would always be a listening ear if I ever had any issues or problems.
I am doing a memory walk for her in a few weeks time in Cumbria, And it’s all for her. I have managed to lose a lot of weight and feel healthier and fitter than I’ve ever done before, she will always be a true inspiration to me and I hope I do her proud. I know that she will be with me the day I do my walk Pushing me up to the summit. 🩷
She battled Alzheimer’s for many years but unfortunately gained her angel wings a few months ago she was the most amazing ambitious inspiring lady I’ve ever met. She has always sat very closely to my heart and has been the best possible grandmother anybody could ask for her wonderful stories over the year inspired me to become the person I’ve become today. She wasn’t just a grandmother. She was a true friend somebody who fought for me and somebody who would always be a listening ear if I ever had any issues or problems.
I am doing a memory walk for her in a few weeks time in Cumbria, And it’s all for her. I have managed to lose a lot of weight and feel healthier and fitter than I’ve ever done before, she will always be a true inspiration to me and I hope I do her proud. I know that she will be with me the day I do my walk Pushing me up to the summit. 🩷
Hatty
I am running 50km for my mum Monica . She has been diagnosed with alzheimer's about 3 years ago and it is heart-breaking to see . My mum is the best person I have known in my life xx
Andrew
As part of my double knee replacement rehab I am running in The Great South Run on 19th October. I will be running for Alzheimer’s Society.
Last year I was the compere at a 20K walk fundraising event for the charity in London. I addressed the walkers before they set off and informed them that their fundraising efforts would support research into finding a cure for dementia. Mary (who has severe dementia), with her husband Brian (also her full time carer) travelled from Belfast to take part and on completing her walk, Mary found me and asked me ‘many times’ if I had found a cure for ‘her’ own dementia. One of the hardest questions that I have ever been asked …….
3 weeks later I compered a similar event in Edinburgh. Mary (and Brian) took part again and on completion Mary headed straight for me with the same question. Once again I tried to reassure her that everything possible was being done to find a cure but she didn’t understand.
This had a profound effect on me and made me realise how difficult it must be to live with, or be affected in some way by dementia.
For this reason I decided to show my support for such an amazing charity and I hope that you will help me raise a significant amount of money to help find a cure for Mary and many others who suffer from this devastating disease.
Thank you.
Last year I was the compere at a 20K walk fundraising event for the charity in London. I addressed the walkers before they set off and informed them that their fundraising efforts would support research into finding a cure for dementia. Mary (who has severe dementia), with her husband Brian (also her full time carer) travelled from Belfast to take part and on completing her walk, Mary found me and asked me ‘many times’ if I had found a cure for ‘her’ own dementia. One of the hardest questions that I have ever been asked …….
3 weeks later I compered a similar event in Edinburgh. Mary (and Brian) took part again and on completion Mary headed straight for me with the same question. Once again I tried to reassure her that everything possible was being done to find a cure but she didn’t understand.
This had a profound effect on me and made me realise how difficult it must be to live with, or be affected in some way by dementia.
For this reason I decided to show my support for such an amazing charity and I hope that you will help me raise a significant amount of money to help find a cure for Mary and many others who suffer from this devastating disease.
Thank you.
Pete
I’m running for my wife’s grandad John. He was her whole world and 10 miles is nothing for what he and my wife Charlotte went through went he left us.
Callum
There are three generations of us (me, my mum and my daughter) running in memory of our dear friend Phyllis Tweedie who had Alzheimer’s from her mid 60s. She died two years ago and her husband, John, now also has the disease. My mum, who helps look after John, will be 81 on race day and it will be her first race since she got her new hip in august!
Karen
I'm running the London Landmarks Half for my mum who had early onset Alzheimer's and Dementia from her 50s. She is now 76 and since October 2020 has been living in a nursing home. She can no longer speak or do anything for herself. I want to make her proud of me raising money to help prevent this happening to other families in the future x
Danielle
Lin and I met in 1980 when I appointed her to a job at my school. In 1983 we fell in love and worked together until the mid 1990' s when we retired, went adventuring, set up a new house, entertained friends. We were virtually inseparable and did everything together sharing household chores, gardening, cooking and DIY. Lin had great skills - antique renovation, upholstery, house keeping. She was so brilliant that I called her my German "Hausfrau".
Our adventures took us all over the British Isles, Western Europe, USA, New Zealand and in the late 1980's behind the Iron Curtain to East Germany and Czechoslovakia.
Then in 2023 our lives were shattered by a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer's and slowly my beautiful whirlwind wife began to disappear. By November of 2024 the Alzheimer's had taken away her appetite and she stopped eating and drinking leaving her completely debilitated. Throughout the whole journey she had been courageous, loving and was never aggressive. She just kept saying,"Thank you for looking after me and for loving me ". What a star !! She finally succumbed on 30th. December leaving without my best friend, lover and soulmate. But I feel so much gratitude for those truly wonderful years.
Our adventures took us all over the British Isles, Western Europe, USA, New Zealand and in the late 1980's behind the Iron Curtain to East Germany and Czechoslovakia.
Then in 2023 our lives were shattered by a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer's and slowly my beautiful whirlwind wife began to disappear. By November of 2024 the Alzheimer's had taken away her appetite and she stopped eating and drinking leaving her completely debilitated. Throughout the whole journey she had been courageous, loving and was never aggressive. She just kept saying,"Thank you for looking after me and for loving me ". What a star !! She finally succumbed on 30th. December leaving without my best friend, lover and soulmate. But I feel so much gratitude for those truly wonderful years.
Alan
I am walking in memory of my wonderful, beloved Grandad. The Greatest man in the world and my hero who I miss and think about every single day and will do for the rest of my life.
I am walking for you Grandad knowing you will be right by my side.
I am walking for you Grandad knowing you will be right by my side.
Kerry
Share your story
However you’ve been affected by dementia, this is a place for you to share your story with other people who get it.