Memory walk: Diane’s story
Diane tells how she and friend Linda have signed up to Aberdeen Memory Walk in memory of their husbands.
Diane’s story:
My husband Ali was only 55 when he first started having symptoms, but it took five years for him to be diagnosed with young onset Alzheimer’s disease. It had been a really difficult time and when we heard about Alzheimer Scotland’s centre in Aberdeen we went along to find out more.
The support, friendships and laughter we found there made such a difference to Ali and to me. I don’t know how we would have coped without it.
Ali loved to sing and dance so I took him to all the music groups and events organised by Alzheimer Scotland. He absolutely loved it and the minute the songs started he’d be on the dance floor.
It was at one of these events that I met Linda. She was caring for her husband Billy who also had Alzheimer’s disease. We didn’t realise that Billy and Ali were already friends. Linda and I just hit it off and have been great friends ever since.
We both quickly realised the importance of maintaining social connections for our husbands, and also for ourselves as carers. Attending the music and other events organised by Alzheimer Scotland really brightened them up. I really believe that without that they would not have lived as well as they had for as long as they had.
These groups also gave Linda and I a place to meet other people in a similar situation. It’s somewhere we can chat, laugh and cry together without any judgement and it’s been a real lifeline for us.
That’s what inspired us to sign up to the Aberdeen Memory Walk to raise funds to help Alzheimer Scotland continue their amazing work.
Sadly my husband Ali passed away in 2025 aged 70, while Linda’s husband Billy passed away in 2023 aged 76. We miss them every day but we want to do what we can to help other people like us who’ve been affected by dementia. We still go to the centre every week and we also arrange regular evenings out and holidays away with the other attendees.
There are so many dementia services being cut now, so we wanted to do our bit to support Alzheimer Scotland.
I’m really looking forward to the Memory Walk and being there with Linda, our family and our friends to remember our loved ones and to support a cause that’s so close to our hearts.
