A test of strength

Martyn’s story

My son Ollie is very close to his gran Susan and they would spend time together most days, having fun playing games and going for walks.

Susan is my mother-in-law and when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease two years ago aged 73, it had a big impact on the whole family, particularly my wife Julie who has been her main carer.

Ollie was 10 at the time and he had a lot of questions about what was happening to his gran, and why. They’ve not been able to spend as much time together since her diagnosis, which has been a tough adjustment.

Ollie came up with the idea of taking on a challenge to raise money for Alzheimer Scotland in honour of his gran.

We decided to do a plank – where you hold yourself in a push-up position – for two minutes every day for a month. I quickly discovered that it’s something that looks much easier than it is.

Ollie is a fit wee boy and threw himself into the challenge with real enthusiasm. He took the lead in encouraging people to donate and never missed a day – even doing a plank on his 11th birthday. He got his friends and even his whole football team to try it too. It’s been tough keeping up with him.

We’re delighted at the support and generous donations we’ve had from friends and family, and we’re so proud of all the hard work Ollie has put in. He’s already talking about his next fundraising challenge. It’s been a great experience for us and it’s nice to have something positive come out of a challenging time.

Susan’s dementia has progressed rapidly and she is now being looked after in a care home. She is struggling to recognise us now, but Ollie still visits her regularly with the family and her face lights up when she sees him.

We hope the money we’ve raised can help Alzheimer Scotland continue their vital work in supporting families like ours who are affected by dementia.