My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease last year. It's been a struggle for the family, mainly my dad who mum's full time carer. Sometimes I want to cry when I shower mum as I miss my mum a lot.

My mum is and has always been a people pleaser; she has always put everyone first. She told me once that all she ever wanted was to be a mum. I hope she knew she was the best! I always tell everyone she is the fittest person I know, always exercising—she loved walking, jogging, the gym. She jogged through our childhood and was famous in the local area for running around the neighbourhood with my auntie. She is tiny but fierce, a proper mama bear when it came to her three children and then her grandchildren. Watching this cruel illness take that from her has been so hard for all of us. It turned my dad's life from husband to carer far quicker than any of us could ever have anticipated after a fall caused a rapid decline in her symptoms.
Her Alzheimer's journey started with such tiny things where the niggle was there—forgetting a name, then a place—to becoming more and more insular. At first, it was never enough for us to look beyond a more logical excuse until suddenly it just couldn't be ignored anymore. It scared us and hurt us beyond belief, but the overwhelming urge to fiercely protect, help, and love her was undeniable; she had, after all, instilled in us her mama bear instinct.
An instinct that, while navigating this new stage of caring for a dementia sufferer, has been the spur to push us forward, as it became clear very quickly that due to a lack of funding in dementia services, we would have to be the loudest and sometimes only advocates for mum's care.
The grief of losing my best friend is a pain I don't have the words to describe. I was blessed with a mother who I could talk to about almost anything; we shopped, we laughed, we gossiped, we moaned, all with gusto. When her phone calls stopped coming and the conversations stilted to one word or sentence, I knew, I just knew, and I felt helpless. There are days when I ache for those chats, and feel the littlest glow when, even for the briefest moment, that feisty mama bear returns. Amongst the unconditional love I have for mum now sits a dull ache, a permanent reminder of the life we have had to park and the new path we now have to travel!
I send love to anyone who is also walking this path with us; please know there are still moments of joy to be had. Look for the smile, hold her hand, listen to the story, give the validation. They are so lost, but they are always looking for home ❤️

Looking back we started to lose our lovely Dad, Ken, around 4 years ago, little signs, vacant looks, forgetting what he was about to say, but we all do that right? Over the years the signs came more often, and the Dad we knew started to fade. As a family we had never experienced Alzheimer’s first hand before and our whole dynamic changed. Eventually Dad had to go into care, he deteriorated quickly and he lost his fight in March.
During the last 12 months when we were really struggling I contacted The Alzheimer’s Society for advice, they were so knowledgeable and helpful both over the phone and in person during visits to our home, and always a listening ear for all of us.
If you’re still reading, all of this is my reason for signing up for the 26 mile trek on the 27th of June, raising funds for The Alzheimer's Society and awareness to help anyone who is going through this now or in the future, to let them know who they can turn to for help and advice when everything feels very overwhelming 💙

My lovely grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2021 and sadly lost her battle in February of this year. She was only 70 when she was diagnosed and had only been retired for a few years. She was kind and thoughtful and I will forever feel a sense of injustice for her. She liked jigsaws, card games, quiz shows, her garden, travelling and she was the biggest sun worshipper I know. It was a great pleasure to be loved by her. Despite already grieving her for 5 years, you can never be prepared for the loss when it finally comes around. I miss her immensely but as someone told me once, grief is just love with nowhere to go and missing them is sadness wrapped up in the blessing of knowing them.
I will always love my grandma.

My beautiful and amazing Mum Norma was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2016.
She was okay for the first few years becoming slightly more forgetful each time i saw her. Over the years she became more and more forgetful to the point that eventually she didn't know any of her six children or my Dad.
When I lost my older brother in 2023 it hurt so much that even though she still asked where that man was my Mum didn't fully understand what had happened and she couldn't properly grieve for him.
My Dad became her full time carer eventually and I helped out as much as i could. In May 2025 my Mum and Dad celebrated 50 years of marriage we had a party and it was a wonderful memory to cherish.
A few weeks after this she suffered a mini stroke and was never the same after that. She became completely bed bound about a month later and sadly passed away at the end of June 2025.
We take great comfort that she passed at home in her own bedroom surrounded by all who loved her.
She was the greatest Mum ever and adjusting to life without her is a day to day struggle.

For my Nana. From phone calls every day and Sunday dinners every week, now being your carer. I’m thankful for everything you have taught me and that throughout everything you still smile and light up any room. Dementia has taken so much but not your smile! Love you always!

Im doing this walk for both my mum & dad. Dad had vascular dementia , My mum had Lewy body dementia. Terrible disease, was so hard watching them both decline.
Absolutely heartbreaking