We did the Memory Walk in 2022 for my mum. She started showing small signs about 7 or 8 years ago. Forgetfulness, getting confused. She’s in a care home now. We’re lucky – we’re a big family and we’re all on hand to support my mum. She’s got a good network around her. I wanted to do the walk for all the people who don’t have so many family and friends around them, the ones who are trying to cope on their own.
I was going to do the walk with my friend last year, but she got ill just beforehand. She was really upset, but it couldn’t be helped. In the end it was myself, my daughter, Ainsley and our dog, Buster. She’s nine and she’s never known what my mum was like before dementia. Ainsley’s always been close to my mum, she and her gran have such a special bond. We had a lovely walk together and I talked to her about what my mum used to be like, the kind of woman she was. It was great to get the chance to tell her about how I remember my mum, just the two of us.
I felt a lot better after the walk. We’d done something meaningful, really made a difference. Loads of my friends have said they want to take part with us this year. There’ll be a big crowd of us, all walking together for people with dementia and raising funds for Alzheimer Scotland.
Sign up for this year's Memory Walk here.
