All roads lead to Rome

Chris' story

“When I decided to cycle more than 1,300 miles from my home to Rome I didn’t actually own a bike. And I wasn’t much of a cyclist. You could say it was a bit of a spur of the moment decision.

“My last big fundraising challenge was when I was in my 20s and I walked from Land’s End to John O’Groats. I’m 41 now so I wanted to do something more ambitious that would take me further afield.

“That’s when I had the idea for a bike ride and thought Rome sounded like a good place to aim for. I wanted to do something that would challenge me while also raising money for Alzheimer Scotland, which is a cause that means a lot to our family.

“So I went out and bought a bike, then spent the next year or two planning and preparing for the trip.

“What kept me motivated was thinking about my gran Anne and my great-gran Mary, both on my mum’s side, who died with dementia when I was young.

“Anne was a warm, wonderful, family-oriented person who was very caring and also very lively and funny. She was the first one up to sing and dance at a party and I saw a lot of her when I was growing up.

“Mary was unbelievable. She was the boss in the family but also really friendly and gentle at the same time. I’m so lucky to have known them both.

“They were both strong women until their later years when I remember the impact that dementia had on them and also on the family over many years.

“I’m originally from Paisley but now live in Newcastle. After a lot of preparation, I set off from home to begin what would be a 1,325-mile journey south. I cycled through the Netherlands, following the Rhine river in Germany, then France, Switzerland and finally over the Alps and down to Rome.

“It was an incredible journey and I wasn’t sure I’d be physically and mentally fit enough to make it. But after 24 days on the road, I was so glad to reach the Eternal City. My legs were like jelly, but what an amazing experience. One of the highlights was meeting so many different people and speaking to them about Alzheimer Scotland and dementia generally.

“I’ve had great support from family and friends – especially my wife Jemma and our two boys – and I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped and donated so generously.

“The work Alzheimer Scotland does is excellent and so varied. I hope the money I’ve raised can go some way to keep that going and to help more people whose lives are affected by dementia.”

Thank you to Chris for sharing his story.