A life of fun and laughter
Pamela tells how she was inspired to take part in our annual Memory Walk to raise funds in memory of her dad Louis
Pamela’s story
My dad Louis was always full of life and would play practical jokes on us all the time.
Growing up, I remember lots of fun and laughter in the house and we had so many great times together.
Dad was very sporty and liked to stay active. We grew up on Islay and he really enjoyed being outdoors. He’d run marathons and at weekends would often drag me and my sister Donna up hills with him.
He worked hard all his life and was the kind of person who’d go out of his way to help others.
It was during the pandemic that we noticed changes in Dad. He was struggling to remember things and just didn’t seem his usual self. He had family members with dementia, but at that point we thought it might’ve been caused by the isolation of Covid or related to his hearing difficulties. But eventually he was diagnosed with dementia in 2021, aged 73.
My mum Wilma was his main carer and my sister Donna helped out a lot too, while I visited as much as I could from my home in Glasgow. It was a really difficult time for everyone. It felt like we had to fight every step of the way to get him the care he needed.
Dad’s condition progressed very quickly and he passed away on New Year’s Day 2022.
At that time, I didn’t realise the support that was available from Alzheimer Scotland. Looking back, I could’ve called their freephone helpline because just feeling as if you’ve been listened to is so important when you’re going through an experience like that.
I signed up to Alzheimer Scotland’s 2025 Memory Walk in Glasgow, having first taken part last year. We wanted to do something to remember Dad and to raise funds to support the charity’s work in supporting other families like mine.
My husband Grant and our son Jacob walked with me and we really enjoyed the day. It’s such a lovely, friendly atmosphere and it feels good to do something practical in memory of Dad. I’ve been so grateful to family and friends for their support and for donating to a cause so close to our hearts.
Dementia touches so many lives and I would really encourage other families to reach out for support from Alzheimer Scotland. No one should face dementia alone.
- For help and support, contact Alzheimer Scotland’s 24-hour freephone dementia helpline by calling 0808 808 3000 or email helpline@alzscot.org
