Staff at a Beverley based care home are organising a Memory Walk to raise awareness of dementia and vital funds for the Alzheimer’s Society.
The walk will be one of hundreds of similar events taking place nationwide in August.
Last year 50,000 people of all ages and abilities from across the country took part, celebrating loves ones affected by the condition while raising an impressive £3.9million towards vital research into a cure for dementia.
Every year in the UK over 225,000 people develop dementia, with an estimated 5,500 people living with the condition in the East Riding today.
The Old School House, the council run care home which specialises in supporting people with advanced dementia, has decided to organise their own Memory Walk, which takes place in the Beverley area on Friday 19 August.
Councillor Richard Harrap, council portfolio holder for adult and carer services, said:
“Dementia is a condition which is affecting an increasing number of people nationwide year on year, so it is more important than ever before that we all play a part in helping to raise awareness of what is a truly devastating condition.
“The memory walk being organised by The Old School House is a great way of showing our support for those living with dementia and the work that is being done to try and combat the condition here in the East Riding and beyond.”
The Memory Walk is being organised by Kirsty Fairfield, service support assistant, and activities co-ordinators Laura Douse and Rebecca Roe.
Volunteers are also planning a separate Memory Walk at the Humber Bridge on 10 September, but the care home was keen to organise an event in the Beverley area, in the hope of encouraging more people to take part.
Kirsty said:
“As we are a dementia home it is something we are aware of and we wanted to do something in the local area – the walk is open to everyone and we want as many people as possible to come along and join us.”
The organisers are finalising the planned route for the walk, which will be held over two distances – a short walk of about 2km around Beverley and a longer walk of around 5km.
For further details about taking part in the Beverley Memory Walk on Friday 19 August contact The Old School House on (01482) 868118, or visit www.memorywalk.org.uk
Anyone wishing to donate can visit www.justgiving.com/MW16lauradouse, and organisers will also be collecting cash donations on the day.
