Memory Walk a huge success

Families and carers of Alzheimer’s Sufferers came together to take part in an annual walk, supported by the News, to raise awareness and money for research into the disease.

Hundreds of people took part in the Alzheimer’s Society’s Cambridge Memory Walk at Milton Country Park on this morning (Sunday), many setting off early to beat the rain.

Each group of walkers had a very personal reason for taking part.

Gavin Johnson, 36, of Romsey, Cambridge, took part with his family to raise awareness as his dad Glenn Johnson, now 63, was diagnosed around four years ago.

Gavin said: “My dad was hugely independent person who was very, very good with his hands. However when he was working at Trinity College as a porter, he started to change and there were simple tasks he was no longer able to do.

“He is a shell of the man he used to be.”

Colleagues Sian Darvill, 24, and Megan Gray, 27, both work at Cherry Hinton Care Home and wanted to “give something back” to the charity by taking part in the walk after receiving help and support from the charity’s website.

Participants had the option of doing a one-mile route or the 12.4mile route around the country park and were entertained at the start and finish line with live music, an Elvis impersonator, a barber shop quartet and a birds of prey display from the Raptor Foundation.

There was also an information stand to find out more about the disease and what Alzheimer’s Society does.

Russell Rolph, charity community fundraiser, said: “This has been a great success this year. We have had more people taking part than in previous years with over 200 walkers. We hope to have raised £7,000 and we are delighted with the support we have had from everyone.”

To find out more or to donate log on to www.alzheimers.org.uk.

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